sweethymns | ғaтe/alт.dιѕтorтιon ii

[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)

[ And the both of them watch as Caster gets up to move, still leaning against the respective chairs that their masters were sitting at, when she asks— and Cu flashes Diarmuid a look, one which Diarmuid responds to with a nod. ]

Yes. Whoever he was, he...

[ A furrow of his brows, as he recalls how unnerved Ai seemed to be after that particular visitation.

If only Diarmuid knew, tbh... ]

...didn't seem to be a Servant that my Master took to kindly. Dangerous, perhaps.

Edited 2015-09-24 08:05 (UTC)

[Caster is silent, mulling over what Diarmuid just said. If her instinct was correct (and it only ever really failed her near the end of her past life), than this Servant may be a wildcard and not in the way that would be in their favor.

Not wishing to voice her worries, she shrugs.]

Hm. So as long as he stays in his place than he shall be a secondary concern.

[ somewhere in Fuyuki, in his hikikomori basement wine room, Gilgamesh looks up and has a feeling that someone just said something unflattering about him... SECONDARY CONCERN?????? ]

[ Thankfully, Cu couldn't muster a single fuck about Gilgamesh to give. For now. ]

Let's hope he stays where he is, then. We've got enough on our plate without another rogue Servant.

[ lmfao bye Gil ]

[Go die of liver poisoning please and thank you.

Caster makes her way outside, brushing her long hair aside.]

Well, that's it for now. You may use the rest of the time we have in leisure with your Masters. Ah, they should be done now actually.

[One of the familiars goes up to her to give an update.]

"It is as you say. They are now in more suitable dress and can be found in the opposite deck."

[Caster lets out a pleased hum and turns to the Lancers.]

See? They were in good hands all along.

Edited 2015-09-25 06:44 (UTC)

I doubt we could have conducted ourselves so leisurely had they not been in good hands, Caster.

[ This is a lot to take in, and Diarmuid would like some time to mull over some of the details— namely, their objective— but a party is a party, and as all good single-digit century Irish warriors are wont to, he understands the importance of festivities.

This could be dangerous in an entirely different way.

A nod towards Caster, and he makes the first move to mosey on out to the deck of the ship, scan the surroundings for Ai; he'd feel better with her in plain sight. ]

—Master?

"... This. This is it. This is where I go dump myself in the ocean isn't it?"

Oh, stop, you're being over dramatic. Besides, I think it's a good look for you! You look completely different!

[The twins can be heard over the din of the crowd where they found themselves near a railing where they can stand by themselves. They seem to be garnering some attention especially from a group of men looking at them in interest and they may be blocking the view of the sisters.]

"These fit way too perfectly. I wonder if she just wanted to dress us up... Whoop. Waaay too many people looking this way. My cue to leave."

Eh!? Wait, you're leaving me by myself?!

"You can handle it! And I have a feeling you're gonna blow a certain someone's mind away soon. Anyways, as they say, sayonara."

[Lien has left, weaving through the crowd so it's hard to get a good look at her. Ai Thao however... Well.

Ai is a moon flower. There's no other way to describe the way she's been dressed up, all in shimmering white and gold and through glimpses past her long hair, a part of her back is bare due to the design of her dress. There's almost a natural glow to her as she thanks those passing by and giving her compliments. And then she finally sees Diarmuid...]

Oh...!

[ Well.

He wasn't sure what he was expecting, but he can't exactly say that he didn't see this coming; Caster seems like a woman who lives in extravagance and style, and her eye for detail would extend to wardrobe choices. Naturally.

But despite any anticipation that he may or may not have had, it's still staggering. The white, in stark contrast to Ai's hair, is more brilliant than he has the words to describe; he almost has to narrow his eyes against that soft glow. Blindsided would be a good word to use here.

He barely feels the pat on his shoulder that Cu gives him to indicate a silent 'go get her, buddy', and only snaps out of it once Ai utters that soft oh.

The smile that creeps on his face is befitting of his moniker, 'Diarmuid of the Shining Face'. ]

You look beautiful.

[ It's simple, but it's the only thing he can think of to say without it sounding falsely exaggerated. ]

[Her face flushes, not out of embarrassment, but out of happiness. Those words from the strangers around them weren't bad, but hearing it from Diarmuid made Ai really believe it.]

Thank you! [She does, however, brush her hair back shyly (and to hide that bare part of her back)]

Caster is frighteningly prepared isn't she? I... Um.

Oh, yes that's right! [She looks at Cu and points in the direction where Lien last left.]

Lien's trying to hide. I don't think she means to, but she definitely panicked a bit.

I had my doubts, but I'm willing to overlook them for now. You look lovely.

[ Sincere and truthful as always, he offers Ai a hand should she want to take it. ]

—But, Miss Lien? Hiding?

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

1/2

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject