[X] Plan Where Bazett Becomes A Sensei
"Alright," you say, after your conversation with McRemitz-san has solidified in your mind the approach you'll be taking to crafting your first Runic Mystic Code. "A ring it is, then." At this point, you don't think there's anything else McRemitz-san can help you wish, unless she's able to pull a ring out of her pocket for you to test yourself on. So with nothing left to ask her, you decide to head out.
Or do you?
You stop yourself moments before your body gets into gear and, while you're still seated on the couch, ask McRemitz-san "So, how have things been for you this past week? Are things going well for you and Lancer?" As if you couldn't hear the answer to that question for yourself, every night.
"It's been like a childhood dream come true," McRemitz-san replies. "Having Cú around has been everything I ever dreamed it would be, and more." You hope you don't have to hear about the "and more" part. "I just wish I didn't have to wait so long for this, though."
"Was there no way to make Nurse Ortensia give Lancer to you at any time in the past seven years?"
McRemitz-san shakes her head, and says "Nope. At best, she wanted something from me that was completely impossible for me to give her; and at worst, she'd actively taunt me about how she enjoyed holding mastership of him over my head like some kind of toy." McRemitz-san sighs, and smiles as she says "But that's all in the past now. After seven years, I've finally gotten my servant back, and after waiting a lifetime to meet my childhood hero, there's nothing that could make me unhappy."
You nod; you can sympathise with McRemitz-san's struggle, the endless waiting to finally meet that person. "I'm glad to hear that everything's worked out for you."
"So, this is only kind of related, but what's the deal with Mikuni and Ortensia? Do you happen to know why they look damn near identical?"
"They're cousins, if I'm to believe what I've heard from the two of them. Though putting the physical similarities aside, I wouldn't have ever guessed it myself." Mikuni Oriko is, now that you've cracked her open and gotten to experience the soft, sweet girl hiding inside, without a doubt one of the nicest girls you've ever met; while Nurse Ortensia is prickly and abrasive even on a good day. It's so hard to believe that two people so different from one another could be related, even if it's only as distantly as their grandmothers being sisters.
"Huh. I've met Ortensia's father before-" McRemitz-san's prosthetic hand clenches. "-actually, he's the one who betrayed me and stole Lancer from me in the first place; and any family that came from him would have been just as twisted. Must have come from their mothers' side, then."
Again, you nod, and decide to change the subject. As opportune a time as this is to learn more about Nurse Ortensia from someone who appears to know her quite well, you decide against it. Mikuni Oriko wants to get to know her cousin, and pre-empting her the way you are seems like it would be a violation of her trust in you. Instead, you ask "So, do you and Lancer have any hobbies you like to do when you're not working? I know Lancer likes to fish, but what about you?"
"Well, I work out a lot, especially now that I'm getting older and my metabolism's not what it used to be, and of course I like a good pint now and then - I am Irish, after all - but I don't really have anything you might consider a 'hobby'. My job has me traveling too much for me to really ever have the luxury of picking up a hobby."
McRemitz-san is Irish? And all this time you thought she was English. She's probably kill you if you said anything, though. Instead, you decide to play things much safer, and say "You don't look old."
"Older, I said. Thirty's not that old-" McRemitz-san is thirty? "-but it's old enough to where my metabolism's slowed just just enough. I have to eat less and work out more in order to maintain the same weight and muscle mass that would have taken half as strict a regimen just seven years ago." A blush passes over McRemitz-san's face, and she adds "Of course, having Cú around makes it that much easier for me to burn off those extra calories."
Is that because Lancer makes a good partner for McRemitz-san to work out with? Or is this also something you'll have to ask Archer about? Or Kirika, assuming you can put up with another talk from her.
"What about you?" McRemitz-san asks. "Since you're being so talkative tonight, I figure I might as well take the chance to get to know my landlord. So what sort of hobbies do you have?"
"Well, outside of my responsibilities I enjoy reading poetry, spending time with my girlfriend, and firearms."
"Firearms; in this country?? Isn't that, you know, illegal?"
"Very. But I'm... Not exactly the most socially adept person around; and where people are always so unpredictable-" And in the case of a certain Blueberry, annoyingly so at all but the best of times. "-firearms are much easier to understand. They do one thing, in one way, and if they break it's much easier to fix them than it is to fix a person or a relationship."
McRemitz-san is silent at those words; and though she says nothing, in her eyes you can see that she sympathises with your troubles. "Hey, why the long face?" And then Lancer showed up. He's put a shirt on for you this time, sleeveless and white, just like his master's, whom he sits down beside, wrapping his arm around McRemitz-san's shoulder. "Come on you two, lighten up. This is a no-frown zone."
McRemitz-san needs no more convincing than the touch of her servant to bring a smile to her face, but you require a little more effort. "If you don't mind me asking," you say to the blue-haired spearman, "What sort of relationship do you have with Archer? The two of you acted as though you knew one another when we were all fighting the witch, and he's spoken about you on at least one occasion." That you recall. He might have mentioned Lancer more than once, but you don't remember if that's the case. "I know the two of you were in the same War, but is there anything more to your relationship?"
"I think it would be best to say that our relationship is complicated, and leave it at that. The kid's nice enough - and damn if he can't make the best salmon from here to Ulster - but the grownup one's a bit... Harder to pin down my feelings on. We can get along, but between me and the one of him that's still in Fuyuki, we've got too many memories of being enemies to ever really let go of the past completely, I think." Lancer grins, and says "Doesn't mean we can't at least try, I say. Haven't tried to kill each other for, oh, four years now, I think was the last time we had a major spat?"
Yes, this Lancer would only have known the other version of your father, wouldn't he? Any changes to their relationship would be unknown to your Archer. "And what about the Fuyuki Archer? I know he's not the same as my Archer, but... I guess I'm curious, about the man that almost isn't my father."
"Well, he's better than he was back in the War, that's for sure. He's settled into his own little routine keeping house for Tohsaka, and I think he's about as happy as he's capable of being, given the circumstances."
"I just have one more question to ask about him, then," you say. You aren't sure for how long this has been on your mind, nor are you entirely sure why you're asking it, but "So, Archer and I are thinking, once everything here is taken care of, that we'd like to legally become a family; and I have to know- If my Archer were to adopt me, would that make the other Archer my father as well?"
Lancer lets out a raucous laugh, and McRemitz-san can't help but look like Hitomi as she fails to stifle her giggling. "Oh, man, you ask the best questions, you know that?" Lancer says, once he's managed to regain his composure. You didn't think you were being funny. "To tell you the truth... I don't know. Maybe? Who knows. I don't think there's even a legal precedent for the kind of thing you're asking about."
Maybe you could ask Archer about this when you see him tomorrow... You hope he's enjoying his stay with the Kures, and hasn't fallen into Kure Minako's obvious trap. "I see," you say, standing and bowing for your host and her servant. "McRemitz-san, Lancer, thank you for having me, and thank you for all the help you've given me. If there's anything you need from me, whether it's magical or just something I can do as your landlord, please, don't hesitate to let me know."
You receive no immediate response, but as you turn to leave you hear McRemitz-san say with a sheepish tone "Actually... We could use a new bed. The springs on the old one are really loud, after all."
Though you don't let your tenants see you, you can't help but smirk at McRemitz-san's request. "Of course," you say. "I'll see what can be done about your bed as soon as I have the chance."
[ ] Wat do?
