sweethymns | ғaтe/alт.dιѕтorтιon ii

[She sees him again. Closer to who she sees him as now, but still young, always wild. He loves impulsively because back then it wasn't unusual to feel for more than one. He tells the woman the vows to bestow upon their son if he were to be born. The worst kind of vows.

He and his dear friend part ways. A bond stronger and worth more than anything in the world, but not strong enough for them to give up their loyalties.

He has his princess. No one can oppose him. But the fighting isn't over. It's never over.

Another war. He's the only one who can stand up to the invaders. A ruthless queen. Unfavorable conditions. Even he gets tired and sleeps an entire day, which costs many lives. It comes down to the opponent he never wished to face, his dear friend, the one who struggled alongside him in the Land of Shadows. Wielding the demonic spear, he wins and his friend dies. One of his shames, perhaps the one that actually hurt the most. The war has been won.

Years later, he meets a boy, someone equally impudent and wild as himself. He is made to face him even though his wife begs him not to. The boy puts up more of a fight than expected. Gae Bolg is used once again.

He realizes that it was his son.

The hero dies, tied to a post, spear in his chest, and a smile on his face.

She sees all this and she has to wonder, how? Why do you smile? Didn't any of that hurt? Didn't you ever want to stop?? She wants to reach out to him and...

He's in a castle, a basement, a man with deep voice commands him to kill for him, but he holds the master in disdain, disobeys, and then he's forced to☚•?((¯°·._.• ȑ¤√קñβקΨå;ññקΨȑȋ;ğȽƒķ§åjď •._.·°¯))؟•☛☚•?((¯°·._.• ȑ¤√קñβקΨå;ññקΨȑȋ;ğȽƒķ§åjď •._.·°¯))؟•☛☚•?((¯°·._.• ȑ¤√קñβקΨå;ññקΨȑȋ;ğȽƒķ§åjď •._.·°¯))؟•☛☚•?((¯°·._.• ȑ¤√קñβקΨå;ññקΨȑȋ;ğȽƒķ§åjď •._.·°¯))؟•☛☚•?((¯°·._.• ȑ¤√קñβקΨå;ññקΨȑȋ;ğȽƒķ§åjď •._.·°¯))؟•☛☚•?((¯°·._.• ȑ¤√קñβקΨå;ññקΨȑȋ;ğȽƒķ§åjď •._.·°¯))؟•☛☚•?((¯°·._.• ȑ¤√קñβקΨå;ññקΨȑȋ;ğȽƒķ§åjď •._.·°¯))؟•☛...

☼ ☼ ☼

The sharp pain in her head and the flash in her chest awakens her.

The first thing that Lien does after waking up at around 4 in the morning is to roll out of bed, go to the bathroom, and begin to cleanse herself thoroughly in the shower to get rid of any trace of alcohol that may remain on her person. It was mortifying, sleeping next to the man she liked in that state. She had a feeling Lancer didn't particularly mind, but for her, it was a case of personal discomfort rather than being insecure around him. The hot water was helping the young magus clear her head as she allowed the images from the dream linger in her mind.

What a life. There didn't seem to be a single moment in Cu Chulainn's existence that wasn't filled with some sort of excitement and conflict. Live fast, die young, Irish heroes do it well. Had she read his legend before ever meeting him in the flesh, maybe she would have turned out differently. Maybe she would have liked him to begin with. Her hands run through her long hair as she contemplates what was between them presently.

... No, she had no idea how to take it. The memory of the kiss and his hand around hers is burned into her mind, but Lien doesn't know if it would go beyond that. Could it? Like. How would that even work?? And in the end, it's not as though he would be with her when everything would come to a close...

She's done showering and cleaning herself and drying her hair at 5 AM, dressed in more comfortable sleeping clothes (a baggy sweater and shorts). Lien slips quietly back under the covers trying not to think too hard about the person next to her because then there would be no way she'd be getting any sleep.]

[ A Servant doesn't need sleep, strictly speaking. They don't need sleep, food, or other conventional accommodations that are necessities for humans: they've been dead for a while, and after centuries of being dead, they tend to forget what that feels like. Sleeping.

But, well. Lien isn't exactly the world's strongest magus with an infinite supply of prana, so resting isn't exactly a waste of time. Especially considering his continued material state— it takes energy to keep him here, corrupt Grail or no.

He doesn't dream, but when Lien sneaks back into bed at the crack of dawn, there's a dull ache in his chest. His heart.

Huh. ]

...Can't sleep?

[Her back is turned to him, covered by hair that drapes itself over her shoulder and the scent is cleaner and fresher. When he speaks up, she shifts a little so her head sinks into the pillow more.]

I'm okay. I had weird dreams again, but I'm okay.

[There's a pause before she has to ask.]

What about you?

Edited 2015-07-08 00:26 (UTC)

Getting the hang of it, I guess.

[ Sleeping, he means. A hand opens and closes once, twice, testing how it feels: there's still a strange numbness. ]

It's been a while. Feels weird.

[She turns around to look at him.]

Been a while since what?

Feeling this damn heavy. I feel like a lump.

[ He shifts on the bed, for emphasis. ]

[Her hand moves to her chest, trying to parse the feeling. And then she points at his chest.]

Is it hurting there by any chance?

...Yeah, a little.

[ A squint, and he leans forward. ]

Why?

Ah...

[Too close, too close!? Lien doesn't back down, but rather glances to the side as if avoiding his gaze.]

Before I woke up, I... Well, I saw the rest of your life in my dreams. I saw how it ended and then my chest started hurting.

[ His head bows, close enough that his forehead almost touches hers. Conspiratory. ]

Your chest started hurting, huh.

[ He almost laughs. ]

Why? Sad for me?

I meant it literally.

[She smiles at the gesture, despite herself.]

Figuratively... I don't know. Maybe I was. I think I was mostly confused though.

[ He hasn't quite equated the pain in his chest to anything other than his heroic death all those centuries ago— he doesn't think that he could, since he can't recall anything beyond that at all.

So, appropriately, he looks mildly curious. ]

Confused? What, it can't be all that confusing to see someone die.

... It's different.

[She leans her forehead against his shoulder with that murmur.]

You're not just "someone" anymore.

[ That becomes an easy segue for him to wrap one arm around her shoulder, pull her in so he can bring the covers over the both of them. Lazy mornings are fine with him. ]

That's right, huh. I gave you flowers and everything: that's effort.

Easy for you to say.

[It feels like she's being spoiled, but she gladly takes in the closeness and the warmth. She didn't even put her gloves back on and for once didn't have the need for the thinly veiled security they gave her.]

... What I meant to say was that... For me at some point, I felt like time stopped. I grew up, but I didn't feel whole.

... Looking at you, you just kept going. Like a real idiot.

[To her credit, Lien says this fondly.]

[ It's not an insult, being called an idiot: he's heard it a lot over the course of time, and he knows that gallantry often go hand in hand with less conventional decisions.

So he laughs, narrows his eyes in something equally fond. ]

Times are different. You just had a stalemate with yourself for a while— you still have time to be a huge idiot, don't worry your pretty little head.

Well, I definitely had a good start last night.

[She jokes of course and she reaches up to play with his earring between her fingers.]

We've gotten this far though, so I'll try not to ruin it by being more idiotic...

... Hey. You were sad at some points during your life, weren't you? [It occurred to Lien that out of all emotions she's seen him display so far, Lancer never seemed to show regrets or an ounce of sorrow.]

Sad? Yeah, does it look like I'm always cruising life without worrying about anything? I have my moments.

[ He brushes a finger along Lien's cheek, moves a piece of hair out of her eyes. ]

Life hasn't always been easy sailing, and it never will be— it's an endless cycle of stupid shit that people come up with to amuse themselves in one way or another. But...

[ A shrug. ]

...Might as well have fun with it.

[She puts her hand down to think about his words. It was very... It was very him. And that's what made her start to slowly admire him in the first place Even if the sadness was hidden, Cu Chulainn's smile and his insolent jests and gestures were a light in the darkness. Whatever he felt about his life, it didn't hold him back from just being in and focusing on the present moment

... With her of all people.

Lien feels like she could say more. Maybe she should, that's what people would normally do in this sort of situation, right? RIGHT??

... Ah, to hell with it. With surprising courage, she pushes herself up so that she can press her lips against his.]

Idiot.

[ It's quick, it's slight, but it happens— and he looks surprised for just the moment it takes to sink in, and that's all he needs.

When she pulls back, he grins and pulls back in, reciprocates with an ease that suggests that he's not at all bothered by the course of action she's decided to take. ]

Get used to it, I'm your idiot for now.

[This is so bad for her. She thinks that, but Lien lets his reciprocation gravitate and enclose her to him. The warmth makes her feel like she'll overflow to the brim with happiness.]

You're mine, hm? I like the sound of that.

[She moves so that she's sitting more upright using one hand to move her hair over to one side, smiling all the while.]

Although, what if this is just you taking revenge?? Taking all of my kisses like a thief.

A warrior always knows when to go in for the steal.

[ Her accusation makes him laugh, and he doesn't move to sit up next to her, but rather...

...he just scoots, waits until she's in a semi-sitting position so he can put his head on her lap. ]

Be on guard, missy. Those kisses'll be mine for the taking if you aren't careful.

Hm. Ai was right, she would have to protect me from you.

[The weight of his head on her lap is surprising, but not unpleasant. Lien takes this opportunity to tentatively touch his hair, tracing the strands with her bare fingers before transitioning into more affectionate strokes.]

Well, then again, I'm apparently bad at being careful.

[It was still early in the morning. They could afford to spend their time like this together because it won't happen again (and thinking about that hurt way more than she wanted, but that shred of sensibility and hard reality remains). There's a slight tingly and fuzzy sensation from her fingers, her prana still in circulation. But there's a calm and soothing feel to it.]

... Thank you, by the way.

I'm pretty damn sure your sister couldn't protect you from me. I have some tricks up my sleeve.

[ Cu!! ]

[ But, alright— much like a dog on the beloved lap of his Master, the warmth of Lien's prana is soothing: it's a compatibility thing, he supposes.

His eyes close halfway, to keep his senses fixed on those fingers. ]

And, yeah? What for.

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