sweethymns | ғaтe/alт.dιѕтorтιon ii

[ And, for a moment— there's a tightness in his chest, a burn where his heart would be that sears a hot line up into his throat and makes him taste blood. It's a realization of something, but he can't quite place it, a wrongness that he's reminded of if only because the topic at hand brings it to mind. He can't articulate it, of course, but his head hangs low for the second it takes to still his breathing.

Yes, something is very, very wrong. ]

Then that would mean that this entire War is...

[ A lie? Something that doesn't even truly exist?

~~Is his wish being trampled upon again?~~ ]

...Void, I suppose. [ he chooses his words carefully. ] Is this even the real Fuyuki City?

Edited 2015-09-18 01:05 (UTC)

[Ai touches her chest and looks up at Diarmuid worriedly (she had never brought up her nightmare after that day, but...)

Caster closes her eyes and then opens them up again, her expression pensive and grim.]

Is it I wonder...?

[With another movement of her hand, the darkened Grail model turns upside down and the layout of Fuyuki reappears. The dark sand Grail disintegrates, raining down on the city to recreate the rifts again.]

I believe it is and I have a theory. Not a very certain one, mind you, but it is an idea of what may have been occurring. If the Grail was destroyed, but not completely dismantled, pieces of it may have been active, corruption and all.

[Lien sits back in her seat, rubbing her forehead. Her mind is stirring and yet her memories, both hers and Ai's remain frustratingly foggy whenever it came to the topic of the Grail itself.]

And so, this Grail is still clinging on to its purpose, finding a way to reanimate itself through any means possible.

So. We're cleaning up after some other War's mess, if what you're saying is true.

[ It makes sense, to a point. If the previous War left remnants of a destroyed Grail in Fuyuki, it would explain why so many Servants have been summoned incompletely and without Masters: because the current Grail isn't powerful enough to mediate or accommodate for the Servants they've brought in. It would also make sense regarding the existence of duplicate Classes, and why some of his memories are slightly fuzzy. Maybe this copy of his soul is incomplete.

The pieces seem to fit, and Cu heaves a sigh. ]

Sounds like a pretty pickle. We've trundled all this way just to end something that shouldn't have started.

The purpose of the Grail had been lost over time, both for Servants and the Masters we were meant to serve. Whatever it has become now, it cannot grant anyone a miracle.

[The sand falls and flows back to the dish where it originated and the familiar is sent away.]

And even if it did, there would have been no good done.

[ There are alot of directions Cu can take this conversation in— seriously is one, indignance is another. He's not happy, despite his breezy exterior and his easygoing shrug, but he doesn't articulate that because there's nowhere to direct his ire to. Just a vague distaste that he's been hauled here to play like a puppet on a broken string.

So instead, he turns towards Lien and gently bops her on the head with the butt of his spear. ]

Hear that? Good thing you don't really need a wish granted, huh. Except for sticking around with me.

[ Cu?! ]

Ow.

[Caster raises a brow at the pair as Lien rubs her head with both hands, pseudo-glaring up at Cu.]

Hey. C'mon. Serious conversation going on here, you know.

[She turns to Caster, sighing (although to be fair, the magus Servant looks more amused than offended by their antics).]

Sorry.

"None taken."

[Ai pointedly ignores them both and speaks to Caster.]

We'll help close up that large rift like you proposed. That's the more immediate danger right now after all. As for the rest, we'll figure it out.

[She glances at Diarmuid, smiling at him reassuringly.]

We've gotten this far after all. I'm not someone who stops halfway.

[ There's still a vague unease resting in the bottom of his chest, a malaise that's spreading somewhere in the back of his consciousness, but Diarmuid smiles and nods in an attempt not to discourage Ai from her goals. ]

I agree. Whatever will come will come. For now, we should strive to do what we can, within our reach.

[ Spoken like a true boy scout. ]

Edited 2015-09-18 02:46 (UTC)

[There may have been something that could have been called soft in Caster's otherwise, cool and collected gaze as she looks upon the twins. At any rate, she's fine with their answer.]

Then it's settled. After I send all of my guests away, this ship will set sail towards our next conflict. The festivities should be done in about an hour or two. However, this does raise a bit of a problem.

[Caster stands up smoothing her dress before pointing at the girls and flatly stating:]

Your clothes. Off with them.

[Of course, Ai reacts like any normal person would upon hearing such a command.]

I...! I'm... Excuse, me, but what?

[Lien also reacts like any normal person would, by pausing and then taking off her jacket and slowly reaching down to take the edges of her shirt--... Wait, Lien what the fuck. Ai quickly smacks her twin on the forehead.]

Ow! Hey, you heard the lady-...

"Stop that! She meant differently and you and I both know it!!"

[ Sorry, Ai... while Diarmuid has the sense to look off to the side, Cu just tilts his head.

And pinches at his bodysuit. ]

We don't have to take ours off?

[ Cu!!!!!!!!!! ]

[~~IGNORES.~~ Caster puts her hands on her hips, shaking her head.]

I am partially at fault here for not informing early on about how you should dress, but I simply cannot let the both of you appear outside during my party with that peasant or what people of this era call, "casual" clothing. Simply put, it's quite a waste.

[She claps her hands together, smiling at the Lancers and with a hint of coyness in her tone does proceed to ask:]

If it isn't any trouble at all, may I provide your Masters more formal and appropriate dress? As the hostess, it is my duty to accommodate them to look more suitable in my presence. Of course, they'll have to change in a different, but nearby room.

[The twins are about to speak up, but they're already being ushered away by several familiars, whoops.]

Granted, you could follow them if you do not trust my intentions...

[She trails off a little jokingly, but the implication is there. Mistrust her and start a fight or let the noble lady do as she pleases?

That and, why would you follow anyone while they're dressing, that's just rude.]

Edited 2015-09-18 06:29 (UTC)

[ Well. He does have some qualms with leaving his Master and her sister in the hands of a foreign Servant with aims that still remain largely unclear, Diarmuid can appreciate that now is probably not a good time to start contesting the little things... like a change of clothes. He's not entirely comfortable with just abandoning Ai in favor of letting the familiars dress them, but.

Before Cu can interject (he has a feeling that it won't be productive), Diarmuid steps in. ]

I don't see how this is necessary [ just to be perfectly candid!! Ai looks fine!! ], but I'll concede. But harm my Master in any way, and I won't hesitate to retaliate.

Good! Now run along young ones, you both need a lot of work done.

[And so the girls are whisked away with Ai glancing back and Lien trying to grab her glasses that one of the familiars take away with her protesting, "I'm near-sighted!"

When they're lead away, Caster turns to look at the Lancers and her expression reverts to seriousness again.]

... It was necessary, believe it or not. I wanted to make certain inquiries without their presence.

[ The sudden change in tone doesn't surprise Cu so much, because he'd expected it to a certain extent. There's no other reason why Caster would send the Masters away on such a trifle; Servant to Servant, he knows that there are things that they should be frank about. ]

Inquiries, huh. That'd depend on what kind of questions you're going to ask, but I'm willing to hear you out. Shoot.

[ If it's something incriminating about Lien, he'll absolutely hold his tongue. But secrecy's never been his tactic of choice, and accordingly, he doesn't look too put-off by this sudden interrogation. ]

The Grail's corruption has a form. This is fact.

[There's a pause as she lets out a soft sigh.]

It was weak in the beginning. But I do not think this War would have conflated the way it has unless the shadows have heard and clung to someone's wish.

[Caster did say that the Grail was trying to reanimate by any means possible after all.]

Edited 2015-09-24 00:51 (UTC)

A form...?

[ This is something completely new, to hear that the Corruption could take on some sort of concrete form. His eyes widen, and he instinctively he wonders if they're meant to fight it. ]

So we have a clear enemy that we have to defeat in order to allay the corruption. Am I right?

We can only hope that is as simple as that.

[She shifts her gaze to the side, crossing her arms.]

I take it that your Masters have no wishes of their own to make?

[ Give him a moment to think about that, Caster. There's no definitive answer to that question, no way he can say for certain that Ai doesn't have a wish she'd like to have granted. There are abstract things that he's sure she'd like to have, even if she doesn't consider them clear wishes...

...but he shakes his head. Those things aren't for him to say or divulge. ]

I can't speak for her, but I don't consider her wish one that can be granted by a Grail.

[ Cu chimes an affirmative next to him, with a shrug and a quick "same here". ]

Mm. Although it does seem they have found contentment elsewhere...

[The offhanded comment is soon followed up by another serious one. She seems to do that a lot.]

At first, I did not take note of your Masters. I was, for the most part eager to manifest the Grail itself until it became too obvious that there was too much amiss.

[She makes a gesture at Cu.]

And then I noticed yours. Her Eyes are not of natural design, that much is obvious. I believe she may know of my true name already due to her impudence last night.

[And to be fair, she's just pretending to be miffed about that last part.]

[ The response to the comment about Lien's eyes being unnatural is met with a slight narrowing of Cu's eyes, one that says 'watch it'... but he lets that roll off his shoulders (it's not like Caster could really know about how much that affects Lien). He can tell that she's not picking a fight, which is disappointing (in a sense) but respectable. ]

Well, she's the 'impudent' sort. Is her knowing who you are going to be an issue?

[ A tap of his foot against the ground. ]

That said, I'm pretty sure you have an idea of who we are already, anyway.

[Her smile is languid at his last remark.]

This wouldn't be the first time I've stood in front of powerful warriors. I feel as if your names should be more widespread.

For me, my own name is, but a trifle during a time like this. Had it been a long time ago, it would have been perfectly normal for me to exercise the authority my title granted me.

[Caster has had a good lifetime experience of that!]

That aside... The question I posed yesterday about your Master through my familiar is not baseless.

[The familiars are moving about now, reinforcing the walls with magic or doing more mundane things such as rearranging the flowers or sitting nearby awaiting their creator's orders.]

They are, as you can tell, extensions of my being. I send them out in my stead. One of them saw her being approached by a shadow. Whatever words were exchanged could not be heard over the noise of the rain, but...

[A beat.]

It does not seem she remembers.

Edited 2015-09-24 05:14 (UTC)

[ He has to hand it to Caster for being able to control so many familiars at once, but he guesses that it's their location that also helps: it's almost easy to forget that they're on a boat full of people, people whose inherent enjoyment of the festivities serve to facilitate the power of this Servant. Gotta hand it to Caster for being efficient.

But this... Lien not remembering something. It's enough for Lancer to frown, to narrow his red eyes and sift through his memory for that day in the rain. ]

...The rain? So that'd make it the night she met me.

[ He assumes. ]

Funny. I don't remember much about the details of that night, either.

It happened a few days ago as well. In the rain.

[Caster runs a hand through her hair and she has the look of someone who has already been through extremely hazy situations.]

For a girl whose ability can unveil memories and read the structure of nearly anything, there does not seem to be much clarity in her own mind, nor her sister's. Although, I don't think we can speak for ourselves considering how we're summoned. The preservation of our accumulated memories are at the mercy of the Grail after all.

Perhaps you should question your Masters more. It's just a suggestion of course.

[One of the familiars opens the doors to the outside deck since there are less people on that particular side; most have migrated to the opposite deck so, they're free to walk outside which is what Caster does, although she does turn to face them again as if another thought had just come up.]

It is tiresome, all these problems, that come up like weeds, so you may have to forgive me for bringing up another. There seems to be a Servant that has resided in the church building?

Edited 2015-09-24 05:58 (UTC)

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