ғaтe/alт.dιѕтorтιon

[formidable]

Private AU/PSL RP, set in the Fate/stay night universe. Multiple Servants of each class are being summoned or are rogue and appear from mysterious rifts along with shadow-like monsters, threatening to tear apart this unstable and distorted alternate reality. ➢ FSN AU Lien Kha. ➤ FSN AU Ai Thao Kha. ➢ Fate/ALT.distortion Playlist.

Comments

[emotive]

☚☛

[Another peaceful night passes. The next morning after some morning tea, Ai Thao is occupied with the phone and speaking in her native and more smooth, Vietnamese.]

Chị! It's me, Ai Thao!

[The voice on the other end is similar, but has a slightly deeper edge compared to Ai Thao's gentle voice. There's also more energy.]

Yes, Sensei wanted me to investigate some irregularities in the city. It seems the owner of the land aren't available for some reason... It's supposed to be a private matter, but I think it's a bit more serious and Sensei says your Eyes could...

[A short pause.]

... Yes. There are unknown creatures that are coming from the rifts. I was at encountered them three nights ago at the port area. I was able to avoid them and as you can hear, I'm fine!

Could I come and visit? We could talk more and see what we can do... Eh? [There's confusion not only in her voice, but in her expression as well.]

... If you say so?? Later this week is alright, but... Chị, are you sure you're okay? Well... Mm. Goodbye then.

[Ai Thao hangs up the phone and crosses her arms while leaning against the wall.]

Should I be feeling like something is off?

[onoir]

[ Diarmuid materializes at Ai Thao's last statement, similarly leaning against the opposite wall before he straightens and evaluates his reply to her question. It could be rhetorical, but he assumes that it's being directed at him, and so he feels that it's prudent to reply. ]

I also sense something odd about the Grail's supply of prana— it seems to be too much.

[ Though the Grail supplies most of the basis for Diarmuid's current existence, even so, it feels... like there's an abundance of prana, energy that spills over and is being directed in a channel that Diarmuid can't quite pinpoint. ]

[emotive]

[She doesn't jump this time since Ai's getting used to the fact that Diarmuid would be near her side at all times unless she directed him elsewhere. At his assessment, she nods in agreement.]

It's supposed to take the Holy Grail a good number of years to accumulate enough energy to sustain the existence of Servants from what I remember.

[Her fingers go up to her forehead.]

And the last War was... Well, it ended a year after my sister and I were taken in. That was a little over ten years ago.

[onoir]

Ten years. Not a very significant amount of time.

[ To summon a whole slew of Servants, ten years doesn't seem enough time at all. A frown, and he puts one hand against his chin in contemplation. ]

Could that be the reason there are so many rogue Servants near the leylines? They were given enough prana to materialize, but not enough to sustain.

[emotive]

That sounds most likely. And if there's anyone who strays near them... Mm. [It's a nasty thought.]

The leylines probably aren't enough.

[onoir]

If they're feeding on the souls of the uninvolved, that would be a transgression that goes beyond the boundaries of this war.

[ There are things that are bound to happen— Masters playing dirty— and then, there's this. His expression falls. ]

[emotive]

Even so, we at least know from experience that we can seal the rifts if we defeat the Servants that originate from it.

... [She's quiet, thinking, thinking, thinking...]

It's about the fourth day now isn't it? There have to be more Masters now and they would have to notice the irregularities.

[onoir]

It would be difficult to expect all of them to be sympathetic towards events outside of their immediate interests.

[ Which he acknowledges. ]

But it would also be reasonable to assume that we may run into Masters on the course of our own search.

[emotive]

It's not a problem that can be ignored though. Sooner or later, if more of those appeared...

[For some reason, the thought of the rifts is making her head hurt. Why is she remembering back then now? What did it have to do with the present moment...?]

... Bend.

[A single word, almost like a curse. She remembers saying it. He probably made her say it.]

Diarmuid, let's both go outside today. We should assess the locations of possible rifts that could appear tonight.

[onoir]

Understood. I'll be at your call.

[ He assumes that he's being dismissed, so he dematerializes— though, it's almost strange how he feels that he doesn't even have to. Be it the effect of the Grail or no, he hasn't worried about prana supply from the get-go, even if his Master seems not to be too experienced in the way of magic. ]

[emotive]

[She locks up the house, and double checks her Field. All clear. The feel of morning sunlight on her hair is comforting and she makes her way out onto the streets.]

You know, it's technically our first day out together. You'll get to see more of the city this time!

[onoir]

I've seen a good portion of it from the roof.

[ He states, simply, but his voice does betray a bit of lightness on his part. It's one thing to use his super-vision to see the cityscape, and another to actually walk through it.

And as he makes his way through the streets beside her, he can't help but marvel at all the things he's been given information on, but never seen firsthand: a car passes by, and he stops to watch it speed downhill, impressed by its speed and strength. No wonder horses have become obsolete. ]

[emotive]

Eh? Seriously?

[She passes by some people and keeps her head bowed down. Gotta remember, it looks as if she's talking to herself and not man who just happens to be invisible right now...]

I think I was assuming the Archer class specialized in vision... Did you do any archery in your past life?

[onoir]

Ah... no. Against an Archer Class, my vision would still be severely limited.

[ For example, Archer would probably have been able to see the way into Shinto; his was limited to the old town and the surrounding mountains. ]

But as Heroic Spirits, we're privy to some enhancements.

[emotive]

It's still amazing though. Servants really are something.

[They're almost out of the neighborhood and that's when they should both notice that there is a police car outside one of the homes. Ai Thao stops to observe from afar. There's a couple; the wife is crying, the man is angrily talking to the police, trying to explain...]

... Lancer, could you go and listen in on what just happened? If it doesn't have anything to do with our business we'll move on.

[onoir]

[ A quick "understood", and Lancer goes to listen as he's been asked to, taking in the details of whatever the distress is linked to. Something about another kidnapping, another case of a child disappearing in this area.

Once the police stop their questioning and get into their vehicle, Diarmuid rounds back to make his report. ]

—A case of rampant child kidnappings in this area. Often, the children would complain of fatigue before their disappearances, which...

[ His voice falls somewhat. ] ...would lead me to believe that it's the work of a magus.

[emotive]

[His Master is deadly silent after hearing his report. There's a curt nod and she turns away from the scene with the officers and anguished parents.

As they walk out of the neighborhood, Lancer may notice that Ai Thao's hands are trembling. One of them is at least and the other is clutched around it to keep it from shaking too much.]

[onoir]

[ It's not difficult to notice, what with the negative ripple of prana that comes from her, but he stays silent on the matter until he hears another police siren a few blocks away.

This frequently? is what comes across his mind, and it's unpleasant, to say the least, to consider that another participant of the war has no qualms with causing such widespread commotion. ]

...Master. Your thoughts?

[emotive]

[The negativity from her is a mixture of equal parts fear and anger. Normal people weren't supposed to be involved with this. It was bad enough when it was both her and Lien, but this...

At Diarmuid's question, she replies quietly:]

This will probably make the news reports... Need to watch the news somewhere...

[She's muttering to herself, but has enough sense not to leave Diarmuid out of the loop of how she feels and what she wants to do.]

I'm angry. I'm really, really, angry.

[onoir]

[ The temptation is to say "I'd figured", but he nods instead to show his understanding. ]

Then we share the same sentiment. For us, this is an enemy we have to defeat.

[ Not just because they're most likely a competitor, but because it goes against what he believes. ]

[emotive]

We'll find them.

[Another quiet nod. Ai Thao's hand begins to tremble less and in a few minutes they reach Riverside Park where it's still empty in the morning.]

... Lancer. This is something I try not to dwell on too much because the only way to keep living is to be aware of the present. [She looks towards the surface of the river, leaning her arms on the ledge of the fence.]

I don't have a lot of memories of my childhood.

[onoir]

[ He takes in that information with a quiet consideration, and isn't sure quiet what to say in response— this isn't anything he's familiar with, or has a frame of reference for, so all he knows is that it's a delicate subject. ]

Because of your Eyes?

[ So he ventures a quiet query, to facilitate her statement, if she so chooses to elaborate. ]

[emotive]

[An affirmative nod.]

I still have trouble reconciling with the past at times. For my sister, it's worse. We both lost so much time to someone who put his goal above all else.

[She stands up straight.]

So let's not let those children wait a day longer.

[onoir]

[ He can hazard a guess as to what that entails, and he notes it as something he should digest about his Master at a later date. Right now, they have their objectives, and he shouldn't lead her astray. ]

I'm in agreement. The best course of action for us right now is to gather more information.

[emotive]

That part shouldn't be too difficult. It'll be pinpointing the location of this Master and Servant and having to wait until nighttime.