sweethymns | ғaтe/alт.dιѕтorтιon ii

... That's not too far off at all.

[She smiles because of the perceptiveness. It doesn't hurt to be understood so easily sometimes.]

She's a pain, but she's my pain of a sister. It has to count for something.

They do say that the best medicine is bitter on the tongue. Sometimes pain is a necessity.

[ Teasing, teasing— he's not actually saying that Lien's a huge pain, okay.

He just wants to see Ai smile, really. ]

I'll do my best to protect the both of you, if need be.

[What he says prompts Ai to hold up her hand to glance at her Spells. She has yet to use any of them and she remembers seeing only two left on Lien's hand. Ai's not sure what kind of dire situation they'd have to be in, to make use of a Command Spell. So far, she supposes she should be grateful that she hasn't needed one yet.

Ai puts her hand down to put her hand on her hips. She's in a thoughtful mood for sure, but she wants to try and be a little lighthearted, especially with Diarmuid.]

If need be, Lancer, I give you permission to give Lien a hard time as you see fit! I was impressed by last night really; your retorts are just about her level!

[Yes, she will praise him for this, IT COUNTS]

Ah. I suppose I could do as you request, Master— but I can't be held responsible, then, if she cultivates a poor image of me.

At my core, I'm fairly competitive.

[ Lien VS Diarmuid, Round 1: Heaven or Hell, let's rock.

It's nice, though, that he's more comfortable saying things like this to Ai. He wouldn't have, not a few days ago. ]

Well, she can deal with it.

[~~Somewhere, almost nearby, Lien sneezes~~. Ai looks at Diarmui contentedly.]

And besides, I think I also like that part of you. It's a little different from you being my knight.

[ Ah. He tilts his head, letting his single bang fall over his face—

—and smiles one of his more playful smiles, the one he shows more readily in combat than off the field. ]

Your knight can hardly play the jester. But he can try, valiantly, to see you smile.

[Maybe... Okay, perhaps she can try talking about this now. "This" being the state of what's between just the two of them and not just what this fake War had premeditated with its Master and Servant system.]

About last night...

[She looks down at her clasped hands shyly, trying to search for the right words again.]

What I meant to say was... I just didn't know how-...

... I'm too used to wearing gloves. My hand feels way colder than it should be.

[It's Lien's voice that cuts through the tension and interrupts Ai from trying to explain herself. Ai snaps back to reality by turning away from Diarmuid to face the direction where her twin is arriving at. Actually... Is that Lien holding hands with...]

[ ...Cu Chulainn? YEAH IT IS. None of this shy handshake-style holding hands either, proper fingers-in-fingers style. Apparently this isn't at all strange or alarming to Cu, who just looks up from Lien and tilts his head at the other duo. ]

Get used to it. And, hey— maybe we walked too fast, it looks like we're interrupting something.

[WHAT... WHAT IS THIS...!!! Ai looks properly taken aback by this hand holding. It's a big deal because a) Lien didn't like touching people or being touched and b)OH NO HER FEAR HAS COME TRUE? HAS IT?!

The younger twin looks back and forth at the hands and then at Cu and Lien looking fretful.]

Wait... Wait, is that okay? Is this alright?? Chị, did you lose your other glove?? Aren't you uncomfortable???

[Lien lets out a short sigh, brows slightly furrowed together as if wanting to explain, but... Not...]

"I'm fine. Has the familiar arrived yet?"

Don't be dodgy!

[ Oh. Oh, this is just too good? He can read that expression on Ai's face instantly, that look of 'OH NO WHAT HAS MY SISTER DONE, HAS SHE BEEN HYPNOTIZED BY THIS MAN'S ABS??'

(It's not the first time he's seen it.)

So he shrugs, slowly unwinds his hand from Lien's.

Puts it on Lien's shoulder.

And then leans in to nose at her hair. ]

It's like this, missy.

[ And he kisses the crown of Lien's head. ]

H-Hey!

[THAT WAS UNWARRANTED, but not unwanted and Lien closes one eye at the unexpected gesture with an expression her younger twin has NEVER seen before. Ai is seemingly stunned into silence. And so she stares at them. And then at Cu.

Staring... Staring... Stare...

Until Lien moves forward, pulling on her other glove, to turn Ai Thao around, covering up her eyes, and marching her back to Diarmuid.]

We'll clown around later, buuuuut just in case let's just. Keep a look out for that familiar. We're all on the same page??? Right! Good.

[All the grooves are being thrown off today...]

[ Cue some laughing from this asshole's end— gosh, it was just a hairkiss! How cute, all these girls being cute on his watch.

(Diarmuid sighs, but doesn't look surprised at all. He's read the legends, he's heard the stories, and well.

They're both Irishmen.) ]

You call that clowning around? Watch out, you'll hurt my feelings.

[ Yeah, right. ]

All work and no play, jeez.

[Ai is... Ai doesn't know how to feel. Like. What is Lien even doing?? She pulls her sister aside away from the Servants to whisper fiercely to her in Vietnamese.]

If that's what I think it is...!! Where do I even start??

[Honestly, it feels like Ai is the one with the elder sibling tendencies compared to Lien, what with the start of lectures and such.]

You haven't even told me anything about... Anything! Even after I talked to you about...

[She finally realizes why she's upset; Lien barely tells her anything.]

Ah. It's here.

[SAVED BY THE BELL. Or rather, saved by a a large yacht that pulls into the harbor. Ai's anger is subsided by the sight of the boat and the humanoid familiar that exits several minutes later, dressed in the same white and gold robes.

It gives a low bow towards the Masters and Servants.]

"Enter. Preparations are complete and you may now present yourselves."

[The twins turn towards their respective Servants. Lien nods at Cu.]

Servants first? Better safe than sorry.

[Cause you know, the boat could be dangerous... At least the familiar isn't offended.]

[ And they were just talking about sisterly bonds, too. He shoots Cu one of those mildly disapproving looks that don't quite land (it's Cu Fucking Chulainn holy shit), before brushing past him and taking the first step onto the boat. A new experience— it would be more fascinating if he weren't honing all his senses into figuring out if the thing is boobytrapped.

The coast seems clear, which Cu also confirms by getting on, closing his eyes for a brief moment, and motioning for the twins to follow.

Before Ai can pull Lien aside for more questioning, however, Diarmuid steps over to her and tilts his head in a silent gesture for her to come along with him, if she may.

(He knows Ai's in safe hands with Cu.

...Possibly.) ]

Miss Lien. A word?

Mm?

[Ai has gone off to explore the other parts of the yacht (and to cool down from her flare up at Lien). The boat is large, but not so much that there's a long distance among any of them.

Lien looks at Diarmuid, glances to the side as if thinking... and then shrugs in agreement.]

Sure. What do you want to say?

[The familiar has disappeared into the room to start up the engines and set sail making the boat move out towards sea once again.]

Nothing particularly important. Miss Ai thought it would be good for us to speak with one another.

[ That, and to give Ai some space, but that reason is for him to keep to himself. ]

And for me to give you a hard time, though that may happen at a later date.

[She leans again the railing, raising a brow at the Servant at that last statement.]

Giving me a hard time? Well, you can certainly try.

[A beat. And then she purses her lips as she recalls...]

But props for the one last night though. That really was a good blindside.

I have my moments, I hope.

[ Humble, but still with an edge of lightness. He keeps a comfortable distance from Lien out of politeness and necessity, staying in an open area where he can see Ai on the other side— never too far away. ]

I'm looking to win a triumph or two for my Master to smile at. Maybe you'll indulge me.

Hm??

[That phrase gives her pause and she glances at him curiously.]

You want to know what makes her happy?

As much as my pride would keep me from asking something of an opponent Master...

...yes.

[ Joking, joking. Despite the dryness of his tone, the little smile betrays that much. ]

[She's looking quite thoughtful as she casts her gaze upwards to the sky where several seagulls fly overhead.]

You sure do like her...

[Lien trails off, musing over the thought.]

Is Ai having trouble expressing herself around you? Like, she's got a lot to say, but she's afraid to say what's on her mind?

[ He'll bite his tongue about who's more open about liking who, given what he just saw between Cu and Lien; not his place to jab at her about that.

Yet. ]

I can't say. I won't be presumptuous enough to assume that I know what she's thinking...

...but you did interrupt her, today. With your entrance. While she was about to clarify something.

Oops. Well. It happens.

[UNAPOLOGETIC AS HECK!! Okay, maybe she looks a little apologetic. Just a little. Given what she knows about Ai's true feelings and about how her twin approaches serious matters in general, Lien is trying to find the right words herself.

Her answer is... Odd.]

She likes having her hair brushed.

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