sweethymns | ғaтe/alт.dιѕтorтιon

[It was late afternoon. She didn't want to go out until it was very late at night when they would have to confront Rider again. Lien isn't goofing off like a certain twin was thinking, but instead...]

So... What I'm getting from what I'm reading here is that your little black book would be like, what... A trilogy? A saga??

[Lien grunts as she continues a series of slow and steady pushups she had began about 10 minutes ago in the living area in front of the couch. On the floor beneath her face is the large book of European legends and myths that she borrowed from Ai during her last visit when her sister was sick. For every five or so successful pushups, Lien turned the page, amazingly keeping her balance. Honestly, it was about time she actually learned about her Servant's various adventures and exploits and it was a wonder to Lien that she finally got around to it. She stopped right about the part after he trained in the Land of Shadows, gained Gáe Bolg, and then went to war with an opposing army where he captured the war lady Aífe and finding her attractive he...

Maybe there was something more satisfying about learning bits and pieces of who Cu Chulainn was since he was just right there in front of her. Sure, he was a Heroic Spirit, but the fact that he was essentially a demigod and a seriously BIG DEAL in Ireland was... Well. Lien's not quite sure how to feel about that revelation from the book especially since that context makes the fact that he's her Servant seem all the more stranger.

Another five pushups. On the fifth one, she uses one hand to close the book and then continues paying no heed to the strain.]

You know, it goes without saying, but you're actually kind of a crazy guy aren't you?

[This Master has a way of making impudent remarks in the simplest of tones as if it was everyday conversation.]

[ While she's doing pushups, Cu is flipping through channels on Lien's modest TV, looking bored by all the trivial shows that he has at his selection. None of them look particularly interesting, so he turns the device off and tosses the remote aside, hanging off of the armrest to watch Lien train and read at the same time.

Her comment has him raise a brow, laugh a little dryly, and then reach out to put one of the thicker cushions off the couch and onto her back. ]

Define "crazy".

[ His riastrad? Yeah, definitely crazy, he won't deny that. Him being a demigod? Also pretty crazy. But for him, it's just fact, and he looks slightly amused as he tries to see if he can balance another pillow on top of the one he's already stacked. ]

[Guh. The pillows present a great challenge and Lien's arms shake for a second before she gathers her bearings again and makes three more pushups.]

I don't know. Maybe what I'm saying is the stuff you did back then seems pretty alien. [Another pushup and she inhales and exhales accordingly.]

I get it though. Thousands of years ago, things were different and you're from a different country.

[Another pushup. Hey, so far so good--]

Ah, damn.

[The pillows fall off her back. Lien slowly drops to the floor and then sits up on her knees and stretches her arms.]

Were you actually born in a fairy mound??

[ He'd quip about how everything in this day and age seem alien and weird, but he holds off. It's not a debate that's worth getting into, and he's not all too averse to live in the here and now. If it works, etc.

He watches the Lien jenga fall, with some satisfaction. ]

Fairy mound... what, Brug na Bóinde? Don't know, that part's fuzzy— I had about three foster fathers, none of them could get the damn story straight.

[That gets a laugh out of her.]

Some things remain a mystery, huh? I asked because it reminded me that back in Vietnam, we have our own creation myth and I think it's a little weirder.

[She thinks for a moment, trying to recall her country's story.]

100 eggs born from the union of a mountain fairy and the dragon king. The fairy and the dragon king loved each other, but they missed their respective lands more. So 50 were taken to the south with the father, while the other half stayed in the north with their mother.

Edited 2015-01-26 05:17 (UTC)

[ There's a blink in response, as if he expects Lien to have more to say about the story. When she stops, he folds his arms under his chin, leaning forward and off the couch like a big blue dog. ]

And?

[ A subtle tilt of his head. ]

Did they start warring with each other, or what.

[Oh my god.]

[Lien bursts out laughing, almost uncharacteristically so and falls, clutching her sides. She manages to catch her breath]

If that happened, I don't think there'd be Vietnamese people! Geeeez. Granted, the dragon king was a hero who did do his fair share of fighting, but not with his wife.

Edited 2015-01-26 08:15 (UTC)

What, no lover's spats? Sounds like a boring guy.

[ Listen... his entire life was about fighting, petty brawls were daily, what do you mean people aren't rustic and punch each other for fun anymore??

Her laughter is mildly contagious, though, so he doesn't look miffed as much as vaguely amused. ]

They can't all be wild like you, now can they? But who knows? There actually isn't a lot of text that tells us otherwise.

[It's all about grace and ancestral worship and respect, man. She stands up to stretch again, touching her toes and then straightens up.]

Ai and I read the story back when we were young and... Well, when we were recovering. It'd make her feel better when I said that I came from the sea with the dragon king and she came from the mountains with her beautiful fairy mother.

At least it meant we were from somewhere.

[Cause you know. Orphans.

And this topic of legends and myths, no matter what country does bring up the unsaid fact that it brings comfort to the people they were meant for. Cu Chulainn was the fierce and virile hero for Ireland while the myth of Âu Cơ the immortal fairy and the Dragon Lord , Lạc Long Quân meant they had an origin steeped in beauty and nobility.

It meant something, minute as it was.]

Edited 2015-01-26 20:48 (UTC)

[ Being a Heroic Spirit is strange; on one hand, it's not exactly a bad thing, to have people read his story and feel proud of a piece of their country's history (as far-fetched and unbelievable as it may be). But it's not all glamour and glory either, with his occasional summoning to take care of quick business. Like a well-tuned vacuum that gets pulled out of the closet once in a while.

He doesn't mind it, though. It's been his fate since day one, and he's accepted it since day one. In the long run, these moments where he's sprawled out somewhere and listening to someone speak fondly about something, that makes up for all the other shitty things he has to deal with on a semi-regular basis.

So, as always: he grins. ]

So you're the dragon girl. Sounds about right.

[ does he have to do this now, god ]

I do like the sea. Maybe dragons are too cool for me though.

[A shrug and she grabs a towel that she left on a rack, hanging it around her neck. She's about to head to the bathroom to clean herself up, but then Lien pauses. She glances at Lancer quietly for a few seconds.

Hey.

Are we friends??

Edited 2015-01-28 01:34 (UTC)

[ He's about to roll on his back and be a lazy lump for a few more minutes, when Lien turns and poses this very strange, very sudden question.

Pulling himself up with one hand, he peers over the edge of the couch and stares at his Master for a good few seconds, wondering if this is just another one of those weird things she says only to figuratively trip him up later... ]

[ ...but when she doesn't follow this up with something else, something to take the earnestness out of this suggestion, he answers with a blunt: ]

Do you want to be?

[Instead of remarking she just gives a strong and silent nod.]

[ There would probably be a "wake up, I'm your Servant and you're my Master" speech somewhere in here if he felt like it; professionalism, fulfilling roles, etc.

But if she doesn't want to subscribe to that, there's no reason why he should force her to: in a way, it's not bad. Duties are important (he has so much pride, despite it all), but restrictions are just that. Restrictions.

So, in response to her nod, he curls his lips languidly, shrugs and drapes his arms over the side of his chair. ]

Then we're friends, little miss. Don't waste a Command Spell on this one.

[If hidden inner happiness could be personified, it would be Lien right now. She doesn't react all that strongly to his answer except with a nod and the instinctive urge to draw the towel around her head like a hood to hide her face.]

I'm showering and then I'll sleep until we head out tonight. Until then, you can dematerialize. Got it?

[ The fact that she replies with such practicality is a hint for him that she's trying not to sound too happy, so he lets her be for now... but not without a knowing narrowing of his eyes, like someone who's just seen something they're not supposed to have and looks all-too-pleased with themselves because of it.

Thankfully, the expression is subtle. ]

Loud and clear. Sleep well, little lady.

Mm.

[And with that, she disappears into the bathroom and the door closes.

I don't have a wish, I don't have a wish, I don't have a wish.

It's repeated like a mantra. Lien turns on the water, waiting for it to turn warm as she takes off her piercings.

I don't have a wish.

What drove her to ask him such a question? Because she wished for it. Lien never had a friend aside from her twin and after all they've been through, the Master wasn't certain if it was actually alright to call the being protecting her, a friend. But she got her answer. Lien essentially got what she wanted, right?? So one way or another, there was nothing else to want. But she was only temporarily content with the confirmation of their connection and that bothered her. If he could leave her on those terms, wouldn't that be enough?

I don't have a wish.

Next, the gloves come off. The water is warm by now, but Lien takes a minute to just examine herself in the mirror. Nothing had changed, really. Her hair could use a trim. Lien was already nineteen, but neither she or Ai quite looked their age and she idly wondered if it was because of that nightmarish period in their lives that stunted something or if they were still in the process of growing. Her mind wandered off again as it so often did, wondering why her looks were suddenly so important to her and why she thought about what his point of view was...]

Edited 2015-01-28 02:30 (UTC)

[~~"Come back when you're older and I have more to grab".~~

She GROANS, hands pressed against her face, and squatting to the floor as if surrendering. Lien had inadvertently made herself really, really, REALLY, annoyed upon recalling that foolish banter. By all means, she would have forgotten about such a comment since she had a remarkable ability to forget about things she didn't care about.

Too bad it came back to haunt her because suddenly she cared. She cared and she hated herself for it. And whether she's cursing herself or the Heroic Spirit out in the living room, is up to debate, but she mutters a very angry:]

Oh, screw you!

[And with that, she throws off her clothes and takes a shower, adjusting the water so that it's a little cooler than intended.]

⇒

ACHOO!

[Ok, so maybe a cold shower wasn't the best idea, but it's not going to incapacitate her. After several hours, she's emerged from her room, hair neatly braided, and squinting outside the window from the kitchen.]

Mm. Still foggy, but hopefully it won't get worse.

[ What she doesn't know is that he's as quick with his compliments as he is with his quips, as free with mentioning the good as he is about accepting the bad; he'll tease all he wants about certain things (just try to stop him, really), but when it comes down to it, he's as pleased about using "friends" as a denomination as Lien is.

If he knew she cared, he'd call her stupid— he'd laugh— but as he lingers around, invisible, in the small space of Lien's living room, he comes to the conclusion that the bullheadedness is, in fact, cute.

He has a feeling this is going to boomerang back and bite him in the ass, but, well. What hasn't? Might as well enjoy it while he can.

⇒

The sneezing is what brings Lancer drifting back into the here and now, appearing in the same position as where she'd left him a few hours ago, Gae Bolg resting across his chest. ]

Knowing who we'll be dealing with, it can. [ Thanks, Mr. Headless. ] Bring a flashlight or two with you.

Will do.

[Too bad Headless isn't a gremlin...]

Wonder if his head's found a new body or if he's recovered. Lord forbid he finds another horse.

Edited 2015-01-28 05:09 (UTC)

What, he can do that that easily? Where the hell is he gonna find another headless body just lyin' around?

[ How morbid... horses are more likely, though. ]

Don't forget Rider's Master! Someone's got to do the dirty work when you have no working hands!

[THAT'S GRUESOME LIEN]

lιen ĸнa + cú cнυlaιnn v

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