sweethymns | ғaтe/alт.dιѕтorтιon ii

[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?

[She takes his hand happily before replying.]

Well, maybe you'll see her later! She doesn't look bad by any means, but I think she got insecure all of a sudden.

Is her dress similar to yours? She shouldn't be too self-conscious, if that were the case.

[ Even the open back doesn't seem to bother Diarmuid too much, but he does stand half a step behind her to shield her from gazes from others. ]

Though I haven't seen many dresses like these, admittedly.

The familiars dressed her rather differently from me actually. She isn't used to having so many people look at her.

[Of course, as expected nearby women who see Diarmuid are immediately entranced and while there were some people who looked upon Ai with interest, them staying together makes an effective deterrent from being approached.

That or Diarmuid is too brilliant, that might explain it too.]

Ah, but I'm not used to it either...

Edited 2015-09-29 17:43 (UTC)

Do you dislike it? I think it bears reiterating that you look beautiful.

[ Again, spoken without an ounce of flattery: for him, it's just a fact, and one that he's not afraid nor feels particularly shy about stating. ]

If you'd like to go somewhere less crowded, I think the back of the ship would be a good place to start.

[SHAMELESS!! But it's not like she can reprimand him for words that make her feel elated so she nods and hooks her arm around his as they head to the back of the ship.]

It's... Extravagant? I don't dislike it though. Ah, but being like this while I'm with you is dreamlike...

[And it really is for her. Ai's dressed like a princess with a knight by her side. It's the stuff of fairy tales that she and Lien read together when they were younger, but here they are now.]

Edited 2015-09-30 05:46 (UTC)

Fortunately or no, this isn't a dream.

[ He leads her to a quieter section in the back, where they can spot the pinprick of lights that comprise Fuyuki in the distance. From here, it's almost impossible to imagine that such a quiet city and such a peaceful landscape could be fraught with so much mystery— in a way, Diarmuid appreciates the fact that Ai used that word. This is all like walking on clouds.

He positions himself so that he's in the way of the breeze, shielding Ai from the cold sea wind while he brushes his knuckles gently against the side of her face. ]

Whatever time we have left, I intend to enjoy it. [ A beat. ] Not very knightlike of me.

[Her eyes soften as she feels his hand against her face and so she tilts her cheek slightly into it, hair falling across her shoulder.]

If you're not very knightlike, than I'm not much of a princess either, much less a Master.

[She closes her eyes and lets out an airy sigh.]

... Diarmuid? I think I'm able to sort out some of my words.

—Right. I remember that you were interrupted.

[ He hasn't forgotten, and he pulls his hand away to let her have her space, to let her sufficiently prepare for whatever she wanted to say before all of this other confusion happened. He won't rush her; he knows this is important. ]

Please speak freely, Master. I'm here to listen.

I...

[All of this was like a dream. A world that had suddenly built itself around them and one that Ai Thao found herself reluctant to let go of even though weeks before she had even warned herself of this sweet folly.

(And then she remembers the nightmare, how he was hurt, how the rage darkened, him, how it made him suffer, how it made him curse and now the world around them could so easily crumble...)

She reaches up to play with strands of her hair, twirling it around her fingers.]

You've been protecting me and listening to my troubles all this time. This War and you... Everything is very new and very strange.

[Ai glances to the side because him looking at her was too good to be true.]

I think for the longest time, I wanted to find something or someone important. That in itself seemed very selfish so I never could find a way to grasp it, not without faltering anyway. But then I met you.

[She reaches out to touch his chest, the place where his heart should be. ~~Blooditspillsfromhisheart~~]

I don't want to falter when it comes to you.

Um. But.

[All of a sudden, Ai feels her cheeks flare up because, wow, trying to be this serious is kind of embarrassing and she's touching his chest still. But it's important so she continues determinedly in spite of her red cheeks.]

Please allow me to be clear! I definitely didn't want to fall for you or anything! Because then I thought, you'd just go, "Oh, no!" And, um, that would be uncomfortable right??

[The words spill out and she moves closer so she can lean her forehead against his chest so she isn't looking at him.]

But then I started to like other things about you the more we spent time together and fought by each others side! Like how you're good at taking care of small tasks around you, always being attentive and serious. It's hard not to like those things!

[ Admittedly, this is all an exorbitant amount to take in. His speechlessless isn't a result of the information being particularly difficult to digest— it isn't, which surprises him more than anything else, how it seeps into the space where his heart would be and settles comfortably— but because it's something he didn't set out to accomplish, this confession. He never intended for things to go this way, because love is always...complicated, it's ended in quagmires and tragedy more times than he's cared to count in his life.

He can't say that he'd wanted to avoid it, even if he had, to some extent. It wasn't a priority, or a choice, at the very least.

So that should tell you something about his current state of affairs. ]

[ He didn't ask for any of this. Didn't need it, because he'd had his fill of affections in his living days, a love that destroyed him but one he doesn't regret.

And then there's this, something that's blindsided him. Something that started with uncertainty and disarray, an obligation-turned-something-else.

When he feels Ai's weight push against him, her hands in his clothes, he can't help but laugh. ]

Then I feel better in my confession that I didn't intend for this to happen, either.

But if I can be someone important to you, then that wish is something I've become more than willing to grant.

[ He leans in, his arms around her shoulders, his chin against her hair. ]

If you like my attentiveness, then let me be attentive for you. If my seriousness doesn't put you off, then I'll remain as steadfast as you need me to be.

[ Another laugh, low but soft. ]

If you falter around me, then let me be selfish enough to catch you. Is that unreasonable?

Unreasonable?

[She feels as if she was supposed to have made her words simple when it came to this. But nothing had prepared Ai for how relieved she felt when he gave her his answer despite her saying to much. Her face is aglow with indescribable happiness and she reaches up to cup his face with her hands, beaming up at him. The combination of the distant lights of the city, the white of her dress, and the luminous moonlight makes for what could be called an unforgettable image.]

Of course it isn't! I already spent a lot of time coming to terms with it.

And so...

[Her hands move to his shoulders, content to just leave them there.]

I'll be there for you too. I'm neither strong nor amazing, but... knowing I can feel this way for you? I can do anything.

[And for Ai Thao Kha, that's how she knows that it was real. It couldn't be anything else. The desire she felt from the enchantment had been there, true enough. But in the end, she didn't want that kind of all encompassing sensation that would seize her heart and her senses. It was something else entirely and she hopes that in the past, Gráinne perhaps felt the same way about her knight in the end. Because to Ai, he deserved nothing less.]

Edited 2015-10-02 03:15 (UTC)

[ She keeps her hands on his shoulders, but one of Diarmuid's moves up to take her chin gently, to run a thumb under the outline of her lower lip. That in itself is a silent question, a 'may I?', one that he emphasizes with a lean forward that brushes his bangs against her cheek. ]

No.

[ This is the first time he's outright contradicting her, but he feels it's for a good purpose. His face is millimeters away from hers, and his voice is low, quiet. ]

You're both strong and amazing.

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