sweethymns | ғaтe/alт.dιѕтorтιon

[ It's not necessarily that he undervalues his own life— the moment he does is the moment he'll allow himself to fail, and that's counterproductive— but the fact remains that first and foremost, he's a knight above everything else. He doesn't expect that path to be particularly easy.

For all of the ways in which life may have thrown him a curveball, Ai is his hope. And for that, he's thankful— it shows, in his expression. ]

You do me an honor by suggesting so. Though it could be a testament to your own skill.

[Well, that plan of ignoring want almost got shot (hell, what does she even want, Ai is finding it harder and harder to figure out the more time she spends time with him)]

Lancer... I'm happy. I really am. But in the end I'm just...

[... An orphan girl. A lonely girl. Both she and Lien woke up with nothing. Ai knew that Lien felt as if she was literally nothing which is why she didn't want to burden her younger twin. But that only made her feel more forlorn and even more desperate and she hid it by working hard, just being herself; the horribly sentimental self she had woken up as even if she couldn't remember why she became that way.

Ai had been working so hard as an apprentice just so she wouldn't disappear even if all she had were her Eyes. And now that this Spirit was here, even if unwavering loyalty to the end was his goal and for his honor, it felt like she was being cherished in a way that she had never thought existed in any other person before. She felt significant.

A rapturous first.]

... Never mind that. [She draws the jacket around her shoulders tightly.]

The rain feels nice...

Edited 2015-01-22 07:34 (UTC)

[ Diarmuid is, in a way, stupidly selflessly selfish; his stoicism is for his virtues, and he's sometimes blind to its consequences.

But he cares, above all else— it's hard to debate the fact that he has a heart, and he pauses for a moment when he sees that he might have made a misstep.

He knows it's forward of him, but he reaches out to brush off some mist clinging to his Master's hair, thinks about lavender again. ]

...If you have a wish, it's your Servant's duty to grant it.

[ He says, with conviction. ]

I said before, that I didn't have a wish. But...

[They've passed through Miyama Town and they're on the path that leads to the local high school. She looks up at him. Her expression is genteel yet inscrutable, all at once.]

There might be one now. It's not quite crystallized in my mind. In fact it's very vague and very useless. But I'd like you to hear it.

Edited 2015-01-22 07:55 (UTC)

[ "I thought you may have thought of one", is what he swallows, and instead of voicing that opinion, he nods in assent. ]

Of course. Whatever you have to say, I would hear it.

[ And if it's within his power to grant, he will; whether by winning her the Grail, or something else within his limited capabilities as a Servant given temporary visitation rights to this world. ]

I wish not to disappear.

[The rain continues to drizzle lightly, creating some light drops in her hair. She runs her fingers through it in an absentminded fashion.]

... Like I said. Vague. And in a way, you've already been fulfilling this useless wish of mine.

[ He blinks, and then his expression shifts into something profoundly melancholy, a smile that borders on physical heartbreak. Those words are similar to a sentiment he's heard before, a sadness he doesn't quite know how to touch but has, in the past, succumbed to: a young woman whose only wish was to live.

Instinctively, a hand moves to brush a piece of hair out of Ai's face, and the motion is dangerously gentle. ]

Permission to protect your wish, then, Master.

[Blood.

It spills from his heart.

Blood.

Spills from his mouth.

Blood.

From his eyes.

This was enough. This was enough. This was enough. More than she deserved and he wasn't asking for anything more. She BEAMS at him, like a ray of sunshine, her deep blue eyes shining.]

Permission granted! You will win.

[She says so with confidence and like a child with boundless faith.]

So bear with this Master a little while longer.

[ "May your wish bring ~~disaster~~ happiness".

He falters slightly— where has he...?— but pulls himself together upon seeing that smile on Ai's face, on seeing how she seems to light up. In all honesty, he feels... vindicated? No, that would be selfish, but he's happy that he's finally on this path, that his Master is here, that he's been blessed with her. ]

If you would humor me.

[ A light joke, and he narrows his eyes somewhat fondly. ]

You seem to forget that I'm the one indebted to you.

Did I now?

[She playfully quips back with energy that's more appropriate for a young woman her age instead of that dreadful melancholy.]

If I've forgotten, maybe it's because I forgave that debt?

Edited 2015-01-22 18:46 (UTC)

I imagine that it would be difficult to forgive, considering that I'm still here.

[ He owes his entire existence to her, what can he say... but he knows by now not to keep it too heavy, so he smiles instead of looking too stoic about his statement. ]

You give me a fair amount of liberties, all things considered.

Hm. I can't deny that... But I think that's because you already hold yourself up to high standards.

Although maybe to someone like Cu Chulainn, I might have seemed uptight... [Referring to the time when she got stuck with him of course.]

[ A blink, before he laughs— he's a little curious, actually. ]

Ireland's Child of Light is as free as the wind. Not everyone can be so daring.

[ Read: Cu probably thinks everyone is too uptight, don't worry about it. ]

It's a wonder Lien is able to work with him knowing how she is. [SHE'S PROBABLY GOOFING OFF RIGHT NOW even though they have Headless Rider to defeat, geez, Ai looks irritated at the thought]

I think they make a fine team.

[ Is his sincere assessment of the matter, despite the fact that they should reasonably be enemies. They've passed that juncture a long time ago, though. ]

Neither of them attempt to put the other into a mold.

[True... They wouldn't be alive if they were always being silly.]

Say, Lancer? You'll be happy when you get to engage in a battle with him, right?

Admittedly, it would be an honor to lock blades with Cu Chulainn himself.

[ Listen... he was everyone's childhood hero!!! ]

Mm. The stories are rather amazing...

[Like, the dog strangling, going up against a ton of dudes, his friendship and honor with his best friend, the training under the great Scáthach, the romances...

Wait, that totally slipped Ai's mind, but Lien wouldn't stand for that, haha, they're Master and Servant haha, her sister is sensible when it matters haha. (Granted they were friendly with each other and her older twin actually showed her form of trust which was small physical actions...)]

...

Edited 2015-01-23 02:31 (UTC)

AHHHH. Chị has to watch out doesn't she?! I let it slip my attention!!

Edited 2015-01-23 02:32 (UTC)

[ "Watch out"...? There's a moment where this doesn't quite sink in, and Diarmuid almost thinks of how best to explain that yes, Cu Chulainn is fearsome in battle, but he hardly seems the type to harm his Master unless they deserved whatever it is that bought his bloodlust...

...and then he thinks about it.

And raises a brow.

...And sighs. ]

—Is she in any danger?

[ is Lien susceptible to these things... ]

That's the worst part, Lancer! I have no idea! There are things I'm absolutely certain about with my sister, but in other areas, it's complete, 100% unpredictability!

[ Diarmuid thinks about this again— back then, it was pretty much not a big deal for Cu to be doing the things he was doing, but again, Diarmuid has a feeling that this isn't the standard, in this time and age.

Cue a strained, half-searching: ] Does she get smitten easily?

[ this is an awkward subject for him ]

[Blinking. Thinking. Really thinking...]

[Then she glances at him. SIGHS IN RELIEF.]

Goodness, I think I should have a little more faith. After all, she talks with you quite normally, doesn't she?

[Well, normal conversations with Lien are... a thing...]

Well.

As normal as conversations about my chest can be, I suppose.

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