- Location
- The Hub
Thank you for clearing that up.
My only other question at this point is where Albion came from since it's about as old as the Moon Cell.
I'm Not a Regular Mom (FGO OC)
- Thread starter Blinktwice13
- Start date
My only other question at this point is where Albion came from since it's about as old as the Moon Cell.
I think he landed as a Meteor when the planet was forming.
Will Fou-ex have an adorable mask/costume to keep his secret identity safe?
given the current summer event, will all the servants with swimsuit forms get theirs? and will there be any new ones from your mind?
Blinktwice13
Underpaid Struggle Bus Attendant
- Location
- Eastern US
- Pronouns
- He/Him
To the first, I'm still considering. I have Okeanos and two chapters I really want to write before Christmas.
To the second, there will be canon and original summer servants.
Brace for male swimsuit origins.
Mash looks at Fou-ex in an adorable mask. "Who's that, matthew?"
"I don'r know sis, the adorable fluffiness seems familiar but the mask has me baffled!"
Kadoc looks at this exchange, sighs, and walks away. "Y'all are dorks."
*Matthew designs Cu's to just be a speedo thong, and gets batted upside the head by Mash*
to be fair, Cu' knows how to rock the hawaiian shirt.
- Location
- The Hub
That would track.
He probably arrived as part of the Theia Impactor.
Finagle007
[Verified Great Old One]
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
Tidbit: Barghest has the ability to gain the powers of any fairy she devours. As a True Ancestor, Arcueid is classed as a fairy of Great Mother level.
Garreon
Paldean Top Champion
- Location
- Mesagoza, Paldea
So, between farming the JP summer event and gilfest I binged a series that I actually liked and had me going, so that is how Matthew would look like uh?
Now I can't get a Summer Matthew acting like Uruu from Fairy Ranmaru: Anata no Kokoro Otasuke Shimasu, out of my head.
Or in visual form, like this:
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I think he looks like artoria with a rounder jaw...
i keep having to remind myself he's not a saberface with his sister's shade of purple hair, just the blond hair
Blinktwice13
Underpaid Struggle Bus Attendant
- Location
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- He/Him
-stares into the middle distance-
No, I don't think Matthew would be like Fairy Ranmaru.
Summer Matthew would be interesting, but not in that particular manner.
…to be honest I'd think more along the lines of BBhotep, minus an outer god.
No, I don't think Matthew would be like Fairy Ranmaru.
Summer Matthew would be interesting, but not in that particular manner.
…to be honest I'd think more along the lines of BBhotep, minus an outer god.
so a nice tan, that makes sense.
that reminds me, any Foreigner servants planned? i already noticed that no saber universe events planned so no MHX mayhem getting added, sadly.
Blinktwice13
Underpaid Struggle Bus Attendant
- Location
- Eastern US
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- He/Him
I have one or two Foreigners planned in particular.
While I'm down for fun and wacky, Servant Universe is a bit... much for the tone of this story. Instead we got Gamer Granny Baba Yaga, among other things.
Most of the goddesses have at least one quirk in terms of personality. Having them be deadly serious all the time would be boring. That said, the majority will comparatively be 'straight men' next to Baba Yaga.
- Location
- Caracas
Well, I guess it could work as a side note, because outside of the next event, SU is more or less a footnote in FGO at large, more of a comedy than a serious work and is used to break tense scenes.
Garreon
Paldean Top Champion
- Location
- Mesagoza, Paldea
Ok, now i need to know.....how did she end up as a Gamer Granny?
Blinktwice13
Underpaid Struggle Bus Attendant
- Location
- Eastern US
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Whim, mostly. There's a lot of characterization for Servants and Divine Spirits that isn't remotely connected to history or legend, so I just went with what I wanted to do.
- Location
- The Hub
I feel like the breadth of Cernunnos's Authority might require that he uses a second Divine Spirit as an intermediary between him and his Bunrei.
Say, Pan-Hermes?
Say, Pan-Hermes?
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Finagle007
[Verified Great Old One]
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
One of those had better be Voyager. He may not mind being all alone out there, but he deserves some company, however fleeting it may be.
Matthew and Fou return in the rayshift room with the Fairy Knights and Habetrot to the confused reactions of the rest
"oh yeah, this is Tristan Sith, Barghawain, Lancealusine and Abraham Lincoln."
Fou and Matthew do an air guitar with Melusine, Matthew making the guitar sounds.
Ultimate battler
The one who witnesses the finale
- Location
- Indiana / Foundation Site 13 (moved to Site 7)
Ahh no "what the NEKO ARC IS THAT THING!" "DORIDORIDORI!"
In Which the Seas Are Calm
Blinktwice13
Underpaid Struggle Bus Attendant
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- Eastern US
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Me: 'Time for high seas, high-octane shenanigans!' My brain: What if... now hear me out... we have character interaction. Me: 'But-' Brain: CHARACTER. INTERACTION. AND SET UP.
...you guys get the picture. I even had to rename the chapter once it was done. Work was Actual Satan for a bit, so waiting to see if it's worth toughing out the waves or doing the resume/application thing. Hence low productivity.
...you guys get the picture. I even had to rename the chapter once it was done. Work was Actual Satan for a bit, so waiting to see if it's worth toughing out the waves or doing the resume/application thing. Hence low productivity.
Content Notes: There's like, some barely-there gore. Wodime decides Matthew's means of communication is Trauma Dumping and replies in kind. Some discussion of Caeneus' past, less oblique than past chapters. Also, I touch on Ritsuka's trauma again. Also this is hella long.
___________________________________________________________
Bradamante tapped her foot nervously. "Your highness…?"
Charlemagne, the Holy Roman Emperor, flung more sheets into the air over Astolfo's sleeping body. "It's not here!" he yelped, throwing his hands into the air. "This is bad. Bad! The most uncool thing ever!"
Bradamante was passively aware of the Servant peeking in, barely trying to hide her presence. "What, exactly…?" She trailed off. "Astolfo's in a Singularity without us or any of the Twelve. Surely he'd need every armament he has?"
"It's not that. Sieg's amazing, he can turn into a dragon - and Illyasviel, I heard she's got the souls of two goddesses and a dragon-slayer. It's that I was under the impression that when I okayed Matthew giving him something that dangerous, that he'd stay here where the temptation to use it wouldn't-!"
Bradamante's eyes snapped wide. "Oh no."
Asako slowly emerged from the pile of flung clothing, a shirt dangling from her head. "You mean that silly knight who makes everyone laugh has the screw-you-and-your-entire-bloodline knife!?"
The Emperor, the Paladin, and the Master stared at each other.
And the screaming started anew.
(Meanwhile, Passionlip fret for a moment before wandering off to tell someone Important of this news. It would be the most helpful, right?)
____________________________________________________________________________
"Our little village is missing its idiot."
"...interesting turn of phrase, Passionlip. We were aware Astolfo-"
"And he has a knife."
"...shit."
Passionlip watched the Doctor scramble away, calling for Da Vinci.
"Well. That's my due diligence. Maybe I can try and cheer up Charlie…?" A faint blush stole across her cheeks.
Back to 'observation', then.
____________________________________________________________________________
It had been a good month or so since he'd felt the sweet burn of alcohol in his throat. Well, more of a stout flavor given this was a proper beer, but the point remained.
Cu Chulainn tipped the mug back before wiping the foam from his lips. Feeling the warmth spread through his ether-formed body, he relaxed and looked over the proceedings.
Musashi was hitting the drink pretty hard, but that was of no surprise. Despite getting an eyeful of frankly beautiful pirate captain, she still worried for Medusa. Cu understood somewhat, but he also knew Medusa could take care of herself. Possibly better than the rest of their quartet.
Considering everything she had to draw upon, it'd be even odds which one of them would win a fight without preparation.
The two crews made merry around the campfire, drinking and singing loudly. And off-key. Musashi sat off to the side, and Cu wondered if he should go over and talk to her.
And then Matty plonked down next to her and leaned into her side.
Musashi twitched, then gave a small smile in the fading light of day.
"I hope he helps."
Cu blinked, noticing Ritsuka for the first time. "Oh. Hey, Master."
The boy smiled, holding onto a mug of water. "Hey." He let out a short breath. "Even without a fight it's been a rocky start."
"Eh. I'm not much of a seafarer, but I can pick up enough that we haven't hit anything yet." Cu took another sip.
"Yeah." Ritsuka frowned into his mug.
"Alright. Talk." Cu propped his elbow on the boy's shoulder. "You clearly have a lot on your mind."
"...do you think Mash likes me? Like…" Ritsuka looked up.
Mash sat near the Captain with wide eyes as she was regaled with some story or other. Caeneus sat to Drake's side with a skeptical look, but he didn't say anything. Kirschtaria listened with a mostly-disguised look of glee.
Cu looked back to Ritsuka, and the boy stared at the shieldmaiden with an almost forlorn look.
"Tough place to be, getting those sorts of feelings for a comrade on the battlefield," Cu observed. "Though mind you, I am the last person to talk on that."
"I… I do like her. As a friend. And I think she's pretty. If things were different…" Ritsuka trailed off. "But I'm not ready for something like that. Matthew doesn't get it, but."
Interesting. Most cases Cu knew of, a boy Ritsuka's age would be eager and raring to 'reciprocate' as it were. Though he remembered some at Dunscaith that were late bloomers, and some who were slow to act on their drives.
"So is it the emotional part or the physical part that's got you tied up in knots?"
Ritsuka swallowed, and he - he looked a little sick. "Physical. It's not that- I do feel those- but-" His mouth snapped closed, and he screwed his eyes shut.
"...hm." That would explain it too. "And Matty doesn't quite 'get' it. Yeah, I can see that."
What his lad had been through was one thing, but… he was a fun mix of human and inhuman. It made some things easier and some far more complex. Trauma stuck, but it tended to cling to the source and closer associations. Magi were one thing, but he didn't blame men as a whole for certain scenarios.
He hadn't talked about certain topics, but… he felt comfortable enough to advise on this.
"If it's just that, I'd go for it. Let her know what your boundaries are, and when you're ready to move them let her know that too." Cu shrugged. "Given how sheltered she was and how different she is from her brother, I don't see any issues."
Ritsuka blinked a few times. "So you don't think…?"
"Think?" Cu echoed.
"That she'd think less of me?" Ritsuka's voice was barely above a whisper. "For not being okay with certain things? Even if they seemed kind of tame?"
Cu scratched his neck with his free hand. "Hrm. I can understand the impression." He finished his drink and set the mug down. "So fortunately for you, that Caster of yours isn't the only one I've known who's been through it, as they say." Cu cleared his throat and knocked his chest with a fist. "Not everyone who came to the Castle of Shadows did so whole, and some did their healing there. Teacher was a hard-ass, but she didn't take on a student she didn't see potential in or care about. Some of us, like me, she beat into shape like taking a hammer to mold metal. Others got a gentler touch, like forming clay before firing it. 'Course, they still got the fire in the end, but she made damn sure they were ready first." Cu looked down at Ritsuka with a smile. "Just 'cause you need a little gentle handling now doesn't mean you always will."
"I… I want to get better. I just haven't had time." Ritsuka's hands clenched around his mug.
Cu gave Ritsuka a flat look. "Master. If Matty can go see the shrink on a semi-regular basis between his mad hours in his workroom, training with Teacher, and seeking out friends and family, then you can too."
"You mean between coordinating my time between several Servants, repairing my relationship with my father, looking after my sister, the mountains of paperwork and field reports, training with Servants, filtering through memories that aren't mine for a crash course in magecraft from Leonardo Da Vinci by proxy, and working with whatever mystic codes or potions I get from Matthew and Medea? And keeping on top of my bajiquan training?" Ritsuka gave Cu a baleful look.
"Make the roman and his pharaoh do the papers, split the Servant-tending with the other Masters - you got four plus your sister, now - and ask Da Vinci to help you straighten out your work." Cu poked the side of Ritsuka's head. "You're a bright lad, Master. You've got people to watch your back and help you, so delegate. Your good Doctor certainly didn't hesitate to do so." Cu paused. "And make time for yourself. If you need to say 'no' to do it, do it. You're no good to us all burned out."
"I manage that, at least," Ritsuka grumbled. He scowled, but it was more sullen than out of true irritation.
"Right, right. You came for advice, not a scolding." Cu smirked to himself. He leaned forward and propped an elbow on his knee before cupping his own cheek. His eyes scanned the clearing close to the beach, taking in their comrades once more.
Medea and Kuzuki sat apart, the witch so close to the Assassin's side she was nearly in his lap. To her credit, the man was as unemotive as ever so showed no discomfort.
That was almost all of them- ah.
Achilles loomed overhead, two mugs in his hands. "Yo." He smirked, flicking his eyes over his shoulder.
Cu leaned ever so slightly.
Matthew stared them down with an intense look, and… seemed to have his hackles up? Musashi was still in her cups, so didn't seem to notice.
"You managed to piss him off?" Cu asked aloud in wonder. From what he understood, Matty… didn't idolize Achilles, but certainly admired him.
"Any time I tried to get close enough to chat, he started staring me down," Achilles muttered with a strained smile. "You've got a tenacious little guard dog, warrior."
"He's more catlike, I'd say," Ritsuka mused. He frowned. "I could ask?"
"Please." Achilles paused. "And the comparison is far more apt, Gods preserve. If what Drake said about his offer's true, he's gotta have some trick up his sleeve. I'm not letting my guard down 'till I know what it is."
"All the tricks," Cu replied flatly. "He's not much of a melee fighter, but once he's out of arms' reach and has breathing room most folks are done. Downside is he likes being in the thick of things and neglects his strengths so he can stay close to his friends. Also he can put on some speed but not enough to keep distance from someone at the top of the game and determined."
"Believe it or not, that doesn't make me more comfortable," Achilles huffed.
"He says that you two aren't allowed to fight because you'd both die. Achilles because 'that skin of his isn't a match for godblood' and 'Servant healing is no good against that spear'. Cu Chulainn because 'he's faster than you and can run you over with a chariot'." Ritsuka raised his eyebrows. "...this is the first time he's ever tried to prevent trouble rather than rigging it in his favor."
"Seriously? If we fought - if," he stressed, "I'd leave the chariot aside. It wouldn't be a proper contest between warriors otherwise." Achilles gave a considering nod to Cu. "Though if he has an idea of what I'm capable of… how long have you travelled together?"
"Long enough for him to know what Cu can do," Ritsuka cut in. "If that's his assessment, I believe him."
Achilles gave a low whistle. "Huh."
Cu Chulainn watched him steadily.
The warrior gave a blinding grin. "Well!" he boomed. "Fun as it would be to fight you on the battlefield, it'll be even more exciting to have someone who can keep up on my side!" He thrust the full mug at Cu Chulainn. "Welcome aboard, then!"
"I'm flattered," Cu drawled, accepting the refill. He firmly knocked the wooden mug against Achilles', and took a pull.
"Of course, 'keep up' is a relative term. I'm not the fastest hero for nothing, you know," Achilles boasted after he'd gulped down the ale.
"Something Greek - 'Comet Form'? It's a passive Noble Phantasm that grossly amplifies your speed so long as your heel is untouched." Both men stared at Ritsuka. He shrugged. "Matthew's multitasking."
Again.
The three men looked over at the pixie and the swordmaster.
Matthew's arms were around Musashi's neck as she laughed at something he said, wearing a sweet little moue. When Cu made eye contact, it underwent a startling metamorphosis to a sharp-toothed grin slashed across his face, eyes flashing poison green across the clearing and campfire.
"...is it just me or is he a little frightening?" the Greatest of the Greeks mumbled.
"He's adorable," Cu said firmly.
Of course, that was when Mash's shriek of indignation reached their ears accompanied by Drake's raucous laughter - forcing Ritsuka to dash to her side.
Achilles shot Cu a look.
Cu Chulainn shrugged. "A little flirting and he'll go all bashful. Well, if he liked you to begin with. It's cute."
"I see," Achilles replied. He stared at his mug and knocked it back.
Cu joined him. In solidarity.
Never say I never did anything nice for you, Matty.
...not that he would, but it had to be said. Thought. Eh.
____________________________________________________________________________
Dawn came, and with it we set sail.
Bernard and his crew were neatly assimilated into Drake's. Honestly, I couldn't tell most of them apart aside from Bernard. He wore a red sash around his arm and had a gold tooth that caught the light.
...it probably says bad things that humans I don't have a particular interest for tend to blend together.
I distracted myself from those thoughts by peering over the side of the ship. Orion and Artemis were nowhere to be seen, but I didn't doubt that they were close enough to keep an eye on us. Things would be simpler, I thought, if they could be sure Caeneus wouldn't hold a grudge and disrupt the harmony of the crew.
Though from what I'd pieced together, he had valid reasons for his grudges.
"Penny for your thoughts?"
Great.
I managed to keep myself from bristling too much. "Wodime."
Hm. I wonder… Ah.
The magus in question leaned against the railing next to me, gazing out at the water. We were starting to pick up speed. "Travel is… refreshing, I think. Not being tied to one particular place. You meet new people, ones whose expectations of you aren't set."
...where is he going with this.
"It's been good for you to get out of Chaldea." Wodime continued to look straight ahead. "Even if most of the people you've interacted with have been Servants, it's still people who don't know your past. Even if you tell them, it isn't the same as those who've been around your whole life."
Interesting.
"A change of environment helps, especially when the one you grew up in… wasn't the healthiest." Wodime's eyes slid shut.
"And you'd know all about that, huh?" I shot at him in a poisonous mutter.
"Well. My father did try to murder me to the point my magical circuitry was in tatters, and the only reason I survived was because a homeless boy took me in and gave me food." This was said in such a passive way it tore my attention straight to his words.
The mere idea of it… I didn't have words to respond. That what happened to him wasn't just some jealous Clock Tower pettiness, but calculated abuse; that the 'Golden Boy' might have actually suffered in his life...
Ha! The shoe's on the other foot now!
Shut. Up.
"And why would he do that?" I asked after a moment.
"My talent. I surpassed him at a very young age, and his paranoia caused him to attempt assassination."
I considered that. "So… what made him stop? You kill him instead?"
"No, that was Clock Tower politics. At that point, I'd built myself up in the school and managed to earn acclaim." Wodime's eyes shut. "I… was found."
I looked behind us, and everyone was going about their business. It was like they didn't even notice we were there.
"Simple notice-me-not spell. It's what saved me in the end." He took a deep breath. "I was found by a homeless boy. He never told me his name. Just… saved me. Shared his food. He was rather successful by dint of obtaining a mystic code that conferred… invisibility? Stealth of some kind. He didn't understand it, not the mechanics, but he knew it worked. He left it with me to go get us more food. To take care of me. A stranger."
"...theft is looked upon poorly. But he was caught by humans, right? So he got sent to some sort of prison or a home, and-" I cut myself off when he finally turned towards me.
Wodime's eyes were filled with a deep sadness. Old regret mingled with something not quite sympathy but not quite empathy. An understanding born not just of experience but of observation and learning. Something, if I were more charitable in that moment, I might call compassion.
"I forget, sometimes, how sheltered you are. Chaldea was not kind to you, no. But the world is vast, and the people varied. Imagine what the fair folk would do if he were caught taking from them."
I didn't have to. Morgan had told me stories. Respect hospitality, identify safety, and never, ever, try to cheat or steal from someone with more power than you. Doing the same for those of less power was a sign of good breeding and polite standing, but respecting those higher on the food chain was just good survival tactics.
"Oh."
"Brief as it was, I'd say that connection was my first true friendship. Also my last for a very long time. I made it up through the Astromancy department, became known as one of the shining jewels of the Clock Tower. Despite my circuits being mangled, I managed to shine." Wodime looked out over the sea once more. "More than anything, I want to secure a future for humanity. A world where children like the one who saved me don't have to suffer, where people can live happy lives. Where parents don't murder their offspring for fear of being supplanted, and where said children can live and grow in peace."
"That's a lot to ask, just from the reading I've been doing."
Wodime blinked.
"Class, creed, race, sexuality, gender, sex. Land. Even as time passes, people find new and more banal reasons to hate each other - never go on the internet and take a stance on sports or fiction." I scratched the back of my neck. "Humans as a species seem pretty… fractious. Clannish. They run the gamut from selfless to monstrous, and sometimes one can loop around to the other." I huffed. "What I'm trying to say is… you're looking to overcome what I think might be some of mankind's greatest weaknesses. The comparison of self and other. It's the part that prizes one's own individuality while despising others'."
He nodded slowly. "That's a surprisingly good understanding of what I want, yes." His gaze sharpened as he turned to me. "So please understand-"
I didn't know.
"You didn't know," I echoed hollowly.
"Yes. The process of your creation… as a life in your own right, I don't know if I had the right to intervene. But all that followed Morgan's connection to you? I wouldn't have accepted it. Not least because…" He hesitated.
Ohohoho… the voice chortled in the recesses of my mind.
"Because?" I prompted.
"Because it was so stupid on every level!" Kirschtaria blurted, a flicker of hurt and anger entering his expression. "It makes no sense. Marisbilly summoned a Servant, won a war at their side. Of all people he had to understand what makes them unique among familiars."
I raised my eyebrows in shock.
"A Servant is a facet of a spirit on the Throne of Heroes. Yes, they are affected by perception, legend, and history. Yes, they are not a perfect copy. However: they are still possessed of ego, desire, and emotion. While not the person they were cast in the image of, they are a life in their own right, however temporary. Treating one as anything but another person with all the dignity that entails is a recipe for disaster." Kirschtaria began to pace in short steps back and forth, less than half a meter from the railing and returning. "And your spirit in particular… you of course know what our history's Morgan was famed for?" His blue eyes pierced mine, vehement.
"She... was a huge bitch?" I squeaked.
"Vindictiveness and cunning," Kirschtaria grit out. "She engineered the downfall of a utopia, and depending on who you ask is the one who entrapped Merlin by proxy. The absolute worst thing one could do if you were possessed by her, or worse, deemed worthy to stand by her, is to wrong you in any way, shape or form. She was the equal to one of the greatest mages of all time. Power, intelligence, and a temper most foul. Only the suicidal or those with nothing left to lose would willingly enter her crosshairs. Even if he kept you under his thumb, your rebellion was sure to come." Kirschtaria shook his head fiercely. "So given who was called and his own past experience… it made no sense for Marisbilly to approve your treatment. Still doesn't. He was a pragmatist, and a ruthless magus with the ideals of a 'decent person'. But that… that would be more to break an animal to heel than to convince a mage of unspeakable power and knowledge to his side."
The smallest sound of smugness echoed through the corridors of my mind.
Kirschtaria rubbed his face. "I want to find out why that happened. If I can find that, so much else…" He trailed off. "That aside. I needed you to understand."
"Understand… that you're not my enemy?" I said haltingly, still taken aback by Kirschtaria's outburst. Whatever charm he'd woven was holding firm. People kept about their business, be it keeping the Hind in motion or engaging in their own activities.
"That even if I can't understand what you've been through, that I know what it means to suffer and be saved by someone unexpected. That I am all too aware of the failures of our system. That more than anything I know how it feels to have all eyes on you, even if in expectation of greatness rather than danger." Kirschtaria stopped moving. "That's why I'm glad you made it out. To people who won't place the burden of their wants and fears on you. To a place where you can make whatever ideals you hold a reality."
I scrunched my nose at that. "Ideals… that's a strong word. I just want people to stop being shitty to each other. It's stupid and wastes time."
"Mm-hm." He gave me an amused look. He said nothing else to it, as though he had already given all reply that was required.
In a way, he kind of had.
I huffed. "What the fuck ever, Kirschtaria. Almost everyone who expected anything of you is dead. I guess you'll have to figure out what to do when surrounded by people who take you as you are."
"Ah…" Kirschtara blinked slowly. Then he smiled. "A morbid way of framing it. And I do mourn the loss of life." His smile faded a little. "But I can see what you mean. A new start at Chaldea."
"It's whatever you make of it," I said, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
"Mm. Well, I've tried your patience enough for now. Just… a bit more." The smile returned. "Thank you for calling me by name, finally."
I twitched, a high-pitched growl building in my throat behind clenched teeth.
"And also, I always dreamed of going on a wild adventure into the unknown. For being on the sea only one form of dress is appropriate." His smile bore a flash of teeth. "So thank you for the hat." He tilted the brim and held my gaze a moment more.
Then walked away.
"Screw you, Kirschtaria!" I snapped, wings flicking upward in irritation.
He gave a silly little wave.
____________________________________________________________________________
Medea smiled to herself as Matthew turned to fiddle with the cannons some more, all but visibly steaming in fury.
"Something funny?"
She looked up to see their esteemed captain standing at the wheel, hip cocked and eyebrow raised. To her credit, she hadn't given unreasonable orders yet.
"Just watching an unruly cat get its whiskers tapped with fondness," Medea replied.
Drake snorted out an ugly laugh. "Pretty sure that's a metaphor I don't want to dig into." She kept an eye on the horizon, calculating. The wind stirred her hair. "You've been on a ship before."
"I have," Medea agreed smoothly. "As has Caeneus."
"So aside from Achilles and the idiots, I've got you and him. The dandy's got the spirit if not the knowledge, and the lad might make a good captain if he wasn't obviously a landlubber." Drake tapped the spoke of the wheel. "The swordswoman might be good in a fight, but that can change on the high seas. The young lady's a little uptight, but she's the first to properly get her sea legs."
Drake nodded to where Mash flourished a handful of blades, elegantly stepping and turning into a shield-blow that Musashi blocked with an intrigued expression. The blades came from below in a pointed uppercut, extending as claws past the knuckled in a piercing strike.
Medea looked back to Drake. "Her powers are new, but… her familiar seems to be absent."
"She a sorcerer too?" Drake grumbled.
Medea pondered the wisdom of correcting her terminology. "No. She is a knight through and through," she replied. Trying to explain such things to one without the jargon was… draining. And often counterproductive. "Her familiar… are you Christian?"
"Only on Sundays in port or if I'm in a particularly dire pinch," Drake drawled.
"But you know of Raphael, yes?"
Drake's eyes narrowed. "Yeah. Back home, he was the one you prayed to for a safe voyage on the sea."
"'They,' as it were. The being has no concrete gender to my observation and 'it' seems too impersonal for a Divine Spirit. Apparently there's some other aspects of gender theory that have unfolded since my day, but I am far from an expert." Not to say she hadn't learned thanks to the combined efforts of Matthew and Astolfo.
"Gender theory? Huh. Figured things were pretty cut-and-dry on that front," Drake mused.
"Hm. I would politely disagree. Such things… well, people whose nature and flesh were in some form of conflict have always existed. They just have words for them now." Medea considered Caeneus as she spoke. She never felt any kinship for the man, but she never resented him either. Ultimately, he was another victim of the gods and she would never say nor deny it.
Though neither of them were pleasant on their own, for that matter…
"Ohhh. So those sort o' folks. Met a number of gents like that on the sea." Drake hummed. "A lady or two as well. It's a big world out there."
"So… what was your role on your ship?" Drake asked after a moment.
Medea's smile widened. "Oh? Caeneus didn't tell you? We sailed together."
Drake's fingers drummed the wheel. "There were two ladies on the Argo at last recollection."
"Three, but do go on," Medea goaded.
"Yeesh. So you're the magic-user. Good to know." Drake grimaced. "Do you have to smile like that? It's eerie."
"Ohhh? Do I unsettle you, Captain?" Medea teased.
"It's weird. I figure so long as I don't treat you like garbage and make my prospects the best we're fine, but the smiling…" Drake shuddered.
Medea gave a malicious giggle into her palm. "For such a rough woman, you're rather adorable."
Drake patently ignored the jab. "So we got swordswoman, the man who hates the sea, you, a holy knight with an Archangel, the stud in blue-" Drake cut herself off. "I was half sure Achilles was gonna ask him or the swordswoman back to his cabin last night."
"Musashi is unlikely to engage in that. Her lover is abroad in this circle of islands, and her main goal is to find her." Medea sniffed. "Cu Chulainn… thus far I've seen him either sniffing 'round skirts or cleaving to Matthew's side."
"Huh. Big world," Drake repeated, almost to herself. She shrugged. "The kid's done something to my artillery. Figurehead too. Can't say what as it's not my area, but thanks to the cup I've got a feeling."
The crystallized and transformed core of a Divine Spirit, turned into a Grail. The artifact dangled at Drake's belt, gently swaying as the ship moved onward.
"And that leaves the guy in the robe." Drake tilted her head.
Medea's smile gentled against her will. "Yes. Souichirou."
"Doesn't sound Greek. Guess you decided your old flame-"
"I'd rather not speak on my former husband at any time." Medea's cheek twitched. "Our coming together was a mixture of infatuation and 'divine intervention' of a direly unpleasant sort."
"Yeah, pretty much. Hera and Aphrodite, right?"
The two women looked behind them.
Caeneus leaned against the wall of the captain's cabin, just to the side of the door. He crossed his arms and tilted his head. "You know, I've gotta wonder. How much of what you did was you and how much was that?"
She pursed her lips, considering.
"I am not a pleasant person. Even then, I had the capacity for cruelty. I…" Medea trailed off. "I would have circumvented my father, likely. But there were acts that, free of influence, I would not repeat."
"Heh. Yeah, th-" Caeneus blinked, then scowled. "Anyways. Can't say either of us is a paragon by any stretch. But that does explain a thing or two."
"Whatever we did before, during, or after, neither of us were 'good people'. But neither did we deserve what befell us." Medea turned her gaze away. "It's why you're one of the… three I would tolerate from that boat."
Caeneus visibly processed that. "Three, huh."
"Heracles, for all… he… fawned over him, was tolerable. He kept his distance for the most part." Medea sighed. "The other would be Atalanta."
Caeneus grunted. "Her, yeah. I remember. Out of all of us, she was one of the few who wasn't…"
"She was kinder than I deserved, even then." Medea glanced at Drake. "But here we are, excluding our dear captain. How rude."
"Pfft. You're the one who monopolized the conversation." Caeneus planted a fist on his hip.
"Big words for a mere pirate," Drake said with a coquettish blink. A fierce grin split her face. "Why don't you take pity and speak plainly, hm?"
Caeneus opened his mouth, ready to retort-
"Darling! Daaaaarlingggg! Slow down, we made it!"
Caeneus' head snapped to glare over the bow. His brow drew taut, and his body went whipcord-tight, ready for violence at the slightest provocation.
Medea followed his gaze.
The goddess she'd spotted en route to Drake's camp the day prior slid along the waves, a large shadow under her feet. It was vaguely human-shaped, so she had a hunch who it could be based on legend alone.
Her stance… the knowledge given her by the FATE system indicated it was a pose for 'surfing'.
"That fucking oaf…" Caeneus growled, relaxing by inches. "He's lucky I waited to see who it was before acting." His ire didn't abate, but the threat of conflict ebbed away.
Medea narrowed her eyes. The goddess of the moon carried something - wait, someone - over her shoulder.
"Helloooo! Little Fairy!" Artemis called, waving cheerfully.
Caeneus slowly looked sideways at Medea and Drake.
Drake raised an eyebrow at Medea. "What would she want with the kid?"
Medea gave a long-suffering sigh. "Knowing how the Hound of Ulster corrupted him, I wouldn't put it past the boy to request congress with the both of them."
"Pirate, remember? Small words." Drake's grin showed she fully understood regardless.
Medea made a circle with finger and thumb and jabbed the index on her other hand straight through.
Drake cackled.
"Little Fairy, catch!"
Medea turned to see Artemis' bundle fly through the air, only for Matthew to intercept and catch it mid-flight. His wings beat with mild strain to correct his altitude, and he lowered himself to the ground.
The look of concern on his face had Medea moving to the stairs down to the deck.
When the swath of cloth fell to reveal hair a familiar mix of blonde and green, and dazed green eyes-
That was when the Witch of Colchis ran.
____________________________________________________________________________
Consciousness flowed back in pieces.
First, touch. There was a gentle rocking, as though she were on a boat. Beneath her was a thin layer of softness - a cloth - and under that firm wood. That lent credence to the first observation.
Second, sound. The echo of waves, and voices. Some were loud, but one echoed like the crack of lightning on stone and drove the noise down.
Third, scent. Salt filled her nostrils, which was nothing new. Her nose told her she was near many humans, but the closest two… One smelled of metal and flowers, with a hint of something wilder - an animal smell that was somehow clean. The other brought to mind herbs and minerals, incense and ash.
Her torso felt warm, warmer than sunlight could account for. She forced her eyes open.
"That accounts for the bleeding." The voice was familiar, but… not. Older, somehow. What…?
The woman let a hood hang down the back of her neck, and familiar lilac hair tumbled down her shoulders. Dark blue eyes observed her clinically, and the huntress saw pointed ears that denoted her divine heritage. Other than that, she was much older than she remembered - and wearing much darker clothes.
Next to her was Cu Chulainn's boy from Orleans. Gold light flowed around his hands, and his countenance was far less childish than she recalled.
Behind him was the young Master, though visibly hardened by his experiences. Not changed, exactly, but stronger. Though the outfit… was new.
His Shielder had changed to the point where unless one looked at her head and face she would be unrecognizable.
Atalanta took a slow breath, relaxing her muscles.
"Well, it's good Artemis got you to us. Between mana deprivation and…" Matthew trailed off. "It looked bad."
"Something bit through her stomach, Matthew. 'Bad' is an understatement." The woman magus' tone was tart, clipped.
"Question being, do we have another crew member?" A redhead in sailing garb loomed overhead, thumbing what Atalanta's brain helpfully provided was the trigger on a pistol. "I'd prefer that to be the case, but having women flung onto my ship by passing sea-nymphs isn't my area of expertise, to be sure."
"Big sis…" This voice was rough with emotion and recognition.
The Master's eyes flicked towards its source with some unreadable look, then back to her.
"Achilles, if you're going to hover please do it where I can see you." Atalanta struggled upright. The skin of her abdomen was a raw, angry red. It looked as though she had a bad sunburn more than anything. She looked to the two mages. "Thank you for saving me, Matthew. You've come a long way from what little I remember." She paused, then took a gamble. "Thank you as well… Medea?" She pitched it as a question.
The woman gave her a curt smile. "I can't say I've grown in the most pleasant way after our time together, but yes."
A familiar head of green hair entered her view, hawklike eyes gazing at her with concern.
"Her Core was nearly depleted just keeping her alive," Medea stated, shaking a pair of empty phials in one hand. "Even with my potions, we needed an immediate infusion of mana to halt the degradation. Whatever happened to you," she continued, turning back to Atalanta, "it indicates a severe threat we have no knowledge of."
Atalanta winced at the memory of fangs and venom, dripping and curdling the sea into less then foam. The cacophony of noise that assailed her ears, the hide too thick for even her arrows to pierce.
If it wasn't for Jason's distraction, she'd never have escaped.
They won't kill me! Run, before it reasserts itself!
Well. One ill-fated encounter and hasty prayer later, and she found the 'help' she'd been sent to find.
"It was some manner of serpent," Atalanta explained. She placed a hand on her stomach. "The gouge wasn't from a full bite, but a grazing fang. It was venom that did most of the work."
"Yeah, so be grateful!" a deep voice chided. "That stuff's dangerous!"
A burly man hung off the side of the ship, and atop his shoulders stood her patron.
A dark-skinned man bore his teeth at the giant. Despite the actions of a blond with hair to mid-back, he still seemed quite prepared to choose violence.
Said giant glanced at him. "Right. You! Half-pint!" He pointed at the Master Atalanta recognized.
Ritsuka pointed to himself.
"Right! When you've got some free time, we need to talk." The giant glanced at the other man again, who now brandished a golden trident. "Preferably without agitating certain parties." He locked eyes with Atalanta. "It'd make my job easier if you just told 'em everything!" he called before dropping.
...she was literally in the process of doing so when he interrupted, but very well.
Artemis blinked two times. "Oh! Bye-bye!" With a beatific smile, she followed her beloved down to the sea.
____________________________________________________________________________
Ritsuka folded his arms. "So a giant snake grazed you, and somehow managed to withstand your archery?"
Considering the sheer damage that was done to the Archer, and how potent Ritsuka knew Medea's potion-work to be… Nothing about that filled him with confidence. Especially since a woman known as one of the greatest huntressess of all time was thwarted by an animal of all things. ...even more so when one considered she earned that title in the Age of Gods.
A look at Kirschtaria found his opinion shared, though the older man only showed it with a slight downturn of his mouth.
"I'd never seen its like before. It seemed familiar on some level, but there was an alien quality." Atalanta shook her head, finally struggling fully to her feet. Achilles stood at her side, not offering a hand but staying solidly still when she used his arm as a brace. "I think out of all of us, I was the sole one who escaped. The rest couldn't be fully controlled, and so…"
Medea's eyes narrowed. "The rest?"
"All of us. Almost all of us. Asclepius, Orpheus - even the twins came." Atalanta's eyes narrowed. "The twins turned somehow. I think the witch tapped into Castor's resentment with her manipulations. I was forced to leave Jason behind. There was a younger you, even, but-"
"A witch?" Kirschtaria interrupted. "Circe, perhaps?"
"My aunt might have the power, but she wouldn't put me down unless she'd run out of alternatives," Medea dismissed. Kuzuki stood to her back like a silent shadow, observing the proceedings.
"No. She said her name was Celenike Icecolle." Atalanta let go of Achilles' arm and firmed her stance as her strength returned.
Ritsuka turned to Kirschtaria. The name meant nothing to him.
But looking at Kirschtaria, it clearly meant something to the magus. His lip curled in disgust, his brow drew taut.
"Kirschtaria?" Ritsuka asked. If he had information…
"The Icecolle lineage specialized in the darkest magecraft through blood sacrifice. Death and pain were their meat - gave them power. The curses they used generated more of the same." Kirschtaria shook his head. "The last I heard of them, they had recently raised a prodigy in their arts. She was persona non grata at the Clock Tower to the best of my knowledge. While the mysteries have value by their existence, her class of magecraft is nothing but curses. I personally find them distasteful."
Matthew bristled. "So we're killing her, right?"
...that was very much a snap judgement, Matthew.
"We will likely need to. If she's been added to the enemy's ranks, or even acting on her own, she's unlikely to be compatible with our mission." Kirschtaria's eyes narrowed. "Public knowledge indicates that the nature of her magecraft requires living sacrifices - be it human or animal. We can't afford to spend lives like that in Chaldea. In addition, what little I've heard of her disposition is… unencouraging."
Or not.
"She held a Grail - the same golden goblet you sought in Orleans," Atalanta clarified. "Beyond that, she wasn't alone. There were two Servants she called; Rider and Avenger. And her aura made it impossible for us to deal true damage. She had a great power, but either through inexperience or lack of cooperation she couldn't fully bring it to bear." The huntress grimaced. "Given the creature she commanded, it was still enough to ensure our downfall."
Mash frowned. "So there's a giant serpent, two Servants, and her. From what I learned of the Argonauts, more would have been needed to bring that many Heroic Spirits down."
"Our young Miss Kyrielight is correct," Kirschtaria agreed. "Especially if any iteration of Heracles was present."
"He wasn't," Atalanta immediately responded. "And we were reduced by the power Celenike wielded. It was some sort of mental interference. Though there might have been at least one more we didn't see - even the sea itself seemed to fight us." After a moment's contemplation, she frowned. "Though… I would have expected to see that creature's children harrying you. Instead, this area seems to be the most peaceful I've encountered."
"Children?" Ritsuka squeaked out.
The huntress nodded, not pointing out his tone. "Each is as large as a grown boar. Not the legendary type, but more tending towards those of my time than yours. Far easier to kill than their parent, but still phantasmals of no small power."
"...would they be particularly populous?" Medea asked curiously.
"Very." That was the entire response Atalanta gave as she grimaced.
Ritsuka looked at Matthew. The fairy shrugged with raised eyebrows.
He looked at Wodime. The man tapped his chin. "Captain, would you perhaps have warded the ship with your spoils?"
Drake scratched the back of her head. "Honestly, I couldn't tell you. I'm not one for complicated artifacts, but if it ran off intent it could hold things back unless I aimed for a fight."
"Well, keep it up," Achilles muttered. "At least till we've had a chance to get our bearings." He frowned at Atalanta, a look that only went unnoticed by the huntress herself.
"Odd for you to advise caution, Rider. Still, I won't refuse a short break before continuing." She lightly placed a hand on her still-healing stomach.
...his father hadn't said much about the former Einzbern Servant, but this piqued Ritsuka's curiosity. While he didn't speak much, he also never spoke ill of the man. His mother's acknowledgement extended to his existence, given neither Archer nor Saber faced him in combat.
Ritsuka nodded once. "Alright. Matthew, please go about reinforcing the ship's defenses. Mash, with me. Captain, might I see Atalanta to the cabins for more rest?"
Drake waved him off. "No skin off my nose. Long as she understands that on my ship, it's my orders." Her eyes narrowed.
"I was sent to find allies. If it suits that mission, I won't jeopardize it."
That seemed to be enough, and the crew of the Hind dispersed to see to their business.
The last to go were Ritsuka, Mash, and two Servants in particular.
Medea's lips curled with distaste. "And unfortunately I find myself on a side close to my former husband. Joy."
Kuzuki pat her arm, face as still as it were carved from stone.
____________________________________________________________________________
She remembered the ocean. Enclosing her home on all sides, giving her a place alone with her sisters. The soft sound of waves on days like today.
But things were different now. Yes, just a little.
"Asterios! Higher!" Eurayle's arms reached for the fruit as the giant lifted her up in one massive hand, grip secure yet gentle. With an ease belied by her slim frame, the middle sister pulled a bunch of the fruit from its place on the tree.
"Bananas… coconuts…" Her eldest sister mused quietly to herself. "Such a variety of trees on this little island. Perhaps it has to do with the place we find ourselves in."
She still towered over her older sisters. Medusa's form was not that of her last years, but the garment and shape she wore in Chaldea.
"Medusa," Stheno began before cutting herself off. She paused, considering her. "You seem… different."
"Hm? How would you say, Eldest Sister?" Medusa looked away from the spectacle of Asterios and Eurayle 'harvesting'.
"Well, 'I' made fun of you the way 'I' used to, and you just shook your head with a smile. You're still quiet, but there's something more… confident." Stheno tilted her head, then smiled. "It's a good look on you."
Medusa was immediately reminded of an awed gaze, revering her in a way she'd associated with men to her sisters. Of-
You sure like to read a lot. I like stories, but sitting for a while to stare at a page… eh. Writing's different; I feel like penning a book is something I could do. But listening to you read's the best way for me. Yeah. You've got a beautiful voice, you know? It's really soothing. And, uh, the lap pillow doesn't hurt either~
"There's someone I've grown fond of. They said I was beautiful, and the way they treated me… well, it wasn't the worship you received. But it made me believe them."
She'd seen someone to toy with, but was pleasantly surprised. Musashi ended up being something more than expected.
More than anything, I regret what passed between my sisters and I. The changes to my body, the heroes I slew…
That was a matter of course, right? But your sisters were the two people you really loved. Hurting them, making them worry. That's your regret.
Yes. You understand.
I don't know if I've experienced anything like that, but I get it. Everyone has at least one person who they care for, more than others. Hurting them hurts you. Especially when you don't intend it.
"So little Medusa has a lover." Stheno's smile grew. "Tell me about him, then?"
"Her."
Stheno blinked once. "Her? Hm. Fascinating. Did a maiden tame your wild heart, then?"
A startled laugh flew from Medusa.
Her sister shook her head. "Of course. Silly me, expecting anyone short of an Amazon to keep up with you."
"Amazons would envy her talent with the blade. Though she uses but one type of weapon, she wields so many of them. With skill alone she rends the air apart." Medusa swayed lightly in the sea breeze. "She's rough in manners. Drinks, fights, her eyes wander. But they keep coming back to me. But when she fights… it's like a dance. She'll do anything to win, but even so there's grace. And her eyes are always fixed on victory. On making herself 'more'."
"Goodness. She sounds as if Nike deigned to incarnate as a mortal, if only for a heartbeat." Stheno gave a pleased smile. "And she treats you well?"
"Her heart isn't only mine, but shared with some I care for. But I have the largest place in it." Medusa touched her cheek with her fingers. "And she isn't the only one who has stood by me."
"Mm. You mentioned an artificer who made the 'lens' you wear." Stheno glanced at Eurayle and Asterios for a moment. "One who didn't know your story, despite its apparent fame."
"Yes. In the span of a day, he tinkered a Code to both keep my gaze in check and permit sight to me." Medusa shook her head. "He reminds me a bit of you. He has a younger sister he gently teases, but she reacts more with exasperation than I ever did. It seems that the irritation bolsters her courage and breaks her shell."
"I see, I see. That's good." Stheno nodded. "And what do you think of our newest addition to our isle?"
Asterios sat in the greenery, blinking owlishly at the sun, sand, and waves. He noticed the sisters observing him with a pass of his gaze. Hesitantly, he raised a hand in greeting. Eurayle ignored them, struggling to peel a banana without breaking the fruit itself.
Medusa returned the gesture with a small smile. "I think that my Master will be thrilled to make his acquaintance. He has a fondness for large, fluffy beings."
Stheno giggled. "Ah, I see. Good. After all, 'I' have become fond of him and would prefer not to face this Master you speak of in combat."
Medusa looked upward, to the partly clouded sky. It had been only a day or so, but it felt so familiar. Home again. But…
"I hope they come soon. I find myself missing them. My lovers, my friends."
Matthew's childish exuberance. Musashi's rough-edged yet gentle affection. Even Cu Chulainn's cocky camaraderie.
"Hm. Well, for them to have wrought such changes in you, I will need to ascertain their suitability. Thus far they've been good to you. If their intentions match their past actions, all will be well." Stheno's smile grew edges. "If not… Becoming a Servant has given me some tools to work with."
Medusa sighed. "Ah, sister."
"Hm? Are we discussing 'Dusa's paramour? Shall I loose an arrow to his groin?" Eurayle leaned upwards from Asterios' side.
She and Stheno made eye contact.
"It is to be seen," they agreed simultaneously.
Asterios gave Medusa a plainly concerned look. "Hrn?"
Medusa shook her head. "Ah, this is a different dynamic from our family's past." She smiled a little. "But. It is not unwelcome."
____________________________________________________________________________
"So it's agreed? Astolfo isn't allowed to hunt for food." Illyasviel clapped her hands together.
The paladin in question wilted under the combined judging gazes. "It's… not inedible?"
A pile of rotten flesh that crackled with black lightning offered a difference in opinion.
Illyasviel saw no reason to verbally rebut Astolfo when a gaze at the evidence did just as well.
"Ah… maybe hunting with Walpurgisnacht isn't the wisest idea…?" Sieg offered hesitantly.
What was once a nicely-sized boar twitched with an unearthly, ululating squeak. With a thrust, 'Achilles' put it out of its misery with a timely strike of his sword.
"Uh… whoever made that thing's a piece of work." Blackbeard crossed his arms. "Are they gonna be mad you have it?"
"It was loaned out as a political ploy," Illyasviel explained. "The point being to remove it from its creator's person and keep tensions down." She shrugged. "Opinions differ on how successful it was."
"Hm. It resembles pieces I've seen in Avalon's armory. Ones under many, many bounded fields." Kunapipi leaned over Astolfo, eyeing the blade in his hands.
The silent sentinel remained unmoving.
Illyasviel considered her 'crewmates'.
Blackbeard was a man of the sea through and through, and seemed to have arbitrarily decided to aid them. She didn't trust him, not yet. But so far so good on that front.
Astolfo… could be of help in a fight. Assuming he retained enough reason to do so.
Sieg was proving to be more sheltered than she ever was, and that said something.
Kunapipi was a goddess. From her time under Baba Yaga, she knew that she was restrained from interfering past a certain point due to a compact between her and Manaka Sajyou. Physically, she was an old woman and even if she could perform acts of one many many years her junior Illyasviel would feel some amount of guilt if she were to do so.
That left Illya and 'Achilles'.
Didn't you have green hair!?
Thanks, Astolfo. Illya knew enough of that tale to immediately connect the dots given the presence of arms and armor.
The man was still a student of Chiron and had his own talents, so he could help in hunting food. Even if the flora was markedly different from his homeland, he might also be able to help them keep from ingesting something stomach-turning.
(The air was charged enough with mana even mundane poisons might have an effect. Illya had no intention of finding out the hard way.)
So, the Alter-Ego clapped her hands. "Achilles and I will go hunt food further inland. Blackbeard, you keep an eye on Astolfo and Sieg. Those two will guard the shore in case we have unwelcome visitors."
"There's been the odd serpent, but nothing I couldn't handle," 'Achilles' offered. "I doubt they'll be a match for the world's most lethal toothpick."
"That's an appellation I wouldn't expect for it," Kunapipi mused. "Guardian, I ask of you to man the shore as well. If need be, draw your blade."
A Saber then. Possibly. Seig had a blade at his hip, as did Astolfo, but neither was that class. Even Illya could summon a greatsword of ice at need.
She shook the cobwebs out of her head. "Alright! Onward!" She pointed a finger into the air. "Come! Shiro!"
With a shower of snowflakes, her trusted friend appeared. The bear blinked at the tropical surroundings before giving Illya a confused stare. His breath crystallized the air before him, but otherwise he seemed perfectly at ease.
"Pirate adventure. All the world's seas have been compressed into an island ring."
Shiro let out a huff of understanding. Thankfully, he was very laid-back as bears went.
"Eeeee cute bear." Blackbeard balled his fists under his namesake, eyes twinkling. Illyasviel got the impression he and Ritsuka would get on like a house on fire.
____________________________________________________________________________
Oh, this is fortunate. Your job, should you accept, is to look out for my son when he arrives in your vicinity. With that shield, you're quite suited to it. Of course, I won't ask that for free! You see, I can manipulate the chain summon rather neatly. And given how closely to a certain legend you connect-
He closed his eyes for a split second, then opened them. That woman was confusing, and he'd met Thetis in passing. He still didn't know what he was meant to do, but these Chaldeans had to be part of it.
There were echoes of memory, of warm arms holding him at the end of it all. The idea of a second chance seemed almost alien. Not unwelcome, just… difficult to comprehend.
And then he was alone on an island for weeks. Then a raggedy man, old woman, warrior, and three children appeared.
Almost immediately the warrior found himself slipping back into old habits.
"If you observe the tracks, you'll see that there will be a group in that direction," he said. He traced his finger on the ground. "That way lies a mother with her young. I'd recommend against it, if only so we don't over-hunt." He narrowed his gaze on a separate set, looking at the even larger hoofprints.
"I'm aware. One of my components is Sitonai, after all." The girl tilted her head. "She is very aware of how hunting works," she continued with an amused tone. He got the feeling the words were slightly less charitable.
"Apologies. I…" He was Achilles, for now. He shouldn't-
"I don't know what class you're under, but would it diminish you to call you by another name?" Illyasviel asked.
So she knew.
He sighed. "No, not particularly. The class itself allows me to make use of any connections assuming the Servant impersonated another. In this case, I can use his arms and armor. If I so desired I could make use of his spear, but that was from his father."
"Patroclus. Some accounts indicated you were gentler than Achilles, but still his equal in combat." Illyasviel observed him closely.
The man stood. "I was a student of Chiron, yes. I might have a bit of talent for field medicine, but I was hardly Asclepius. And in terms of combat, I could never 'match' Achilles. His reputation was as much armor as the metal I wore on my body during those days." Patroclus snorted softly. "Though I will admit to having some talent at murder."
"In case you're wondering, Kunapipi is a goddess and wasn't probably fooled. From what I know, Astolfo and Sieg met Achilles in a Grail War once. And I knew from old art that between you two, you had the beard and Achilles was fair-faced." The girl folded her arms. "If you had the helmet on, it'd be another story. That thing really shields your face."
"And that Blackbeard seems a bit more competent than he lets on," Patroclus allowed. He narrowed his eyes. "So tell me. You have some sort of divinity inside along your huntress, that much I can tell."
Shiro nosed the ground, much like the dog who was his origin. He kept wandering forward.
"What is the boy's story? There's a paladin, a goddess, and I have every confidence I know who your Guardian is."
Illyasviel shot him a surprised look. Ah. She was unaware.
"If you tell me, I'll share what I've surmised," Patroclus offered.
"Sieg was a homunculus. He was gifted the lightning which brought Frankenstein's Creation to life as part of her death throes, and given the heart of the Saber Siegfried to ensure his continued life." Illyasviel spoke slowly, quietly. The three of them went deeper into the trees. "In the end, the heart catalyzed, and transformed him into Fafnir itself while leaving his mind intact. In terms of Divine Spirits, Sieg is a bunrei - avatar - of that incarnation. Said dragon waits in Avalon, guardian to an artifact capable of connecting to the origin of all things to grant wishes. We call it a Greater Grail."
Patroclus blinked furiously. "Ah. So his power…?"
"He can assume the form of the dragonslayer, call the primal lightning, or fully transform into his draconic self - for a short time. He also has some skill at magecraft." Illyasviel smiled a little. "But his life outside of the Reverse Side was short, and though he experienced much in that time he was still somewhat sheltered. Even compared to me."
Patroclus frowned.
"I was a Homunculus too, but made for a different purpose. Mine was to be a key to a different incarnation of the Greater Grail, to win it for the family that produced me. The story is longer, but… a certain fairy changed that ending. Decisively." She shook her head. "I've said my piece. Who is Kunapipi's guardian?"
"Who would I recognize so easily that wears a lion's pelt?" Patroclus asked in response.
First there was confusion. Then Illyasviel's eyes widened in what Patroclus knew to be recognition. But after that- Patroclus found himself taken aback.
Pain. Hope. Fear. Love.
Who was that man to this child, to inspire such emotions? Unless. If she fought in a war of her own, then she needed a Servant. Could it be…
"But he's so much smaller than I remember," Illyasviel whispered.
"Great men tend to be," Patroclus murmured.
The moment of introspection was interrupted, naturally, but the trumpeting of an animal from the brush. Trees cracked and swayed, falling with crashes on firm-packed ground.
A boar the height of two men atop each other barreled out of the brush and trees, sending vegetation flying. Its eyes rolled madly, and its breath steamed the air before it. With a squeal more like a roar the air parted before it, and the path was set - directly on course with Patroclus, Illyasviel, and her bear.
Patroclus reached for his sword, bringing his shield to the fore, trusting its durability against such a foe.
He needn't have bothered.
An icicle the length and width of his entire arm buried itself in the beast's eye, turning its charge into a mad sprawl that felled even more trees around it. It screamed its agony to the sky, blood freezing around the projectile lodged in its skull.
Then the bear descended, and the white fur was painted red with tooth and claw. It gouged into the creature's throat, and in a matter of moments the massive beast stilled for the last time.
It had been the work of a minute.
Patroclus slowly looked to Illyasviel.
An ornate bow faded from her hands, turning to droplets of water and falling into nothing. The air around her sparkled, and even with his Servant-born resistance to the elements Patroclus felt the cold radiate from her.
Cool red eyes assessed him. "I did say Sitonai knew something of hunting," she said smoothly. She turned on her heel. "Shiro! Help him bring the carcass back to camp. I have a discussion that needs to take place."
With her nose pointed upwards, Illyasviel made her way back to shore - not once so much as nudging a root with her shoes.
Patroclus exhaled slowly, letting go of his sword.
If this was the caliber of ally he could expect from Chaldea, maybe he had a chance of reuniting with Achilles after all.
____________________________________________________________________________
"...is she okay?"
Astolfo and Sieg stared at each other before looking back to where Illyasviel beat on the cloaked man's chest, screaming in what Sieg understood as very angry German.
He felt no need to track the innumerable invective hurled at the giant using his implanted knowledge.
And finally, a massive hand rested on her head from where he knelt before her. "I was on the job. I had every intention of going home with you when it was done."
Slowly, Illyasviel stopped.
The man lowered his hood.
He had the look of a hero. Kind red eyes, wild hair as black as the night sky. His skin was darkened by the sun, and crimson markings stretched down his neck to under his cloak. There was the face of a warrior reunited with his family. A little worn by time, but still relieved and full of love.
"...You're not even a Berserker," she muttered finally. "How was I supposed to know?"
The man chuckled. "You'll see soon enough that I am still the strongest in the world, however."
Illyasviel wiped her eyes harshly. "I better!" she shot back accusingly.
There was a loud click, a sort of 'poof', and then a low, light grinding sound.
Everyone turned to look towards Kunapipi.
A large, old-fashioned camera somehow disappeared back into the folds of her dress, and she slapped a printed photo into - into what appeared to be a large, leather-bound scrapbook.
"She does that," Heracles explained. "Something about all heroes being her children."
"And of course, one must keep memories of family close," Kunapipi said firmly.
Illyasviel went scarlet and buried her face in the giant's shoulder. He merely placed a hand behind her in an awkward, yet earnest hug.
Sieg looked at Blackbeard, who had his fists under his beard again as his eyes twinkled and he quietly squeaked.
Then he turned to the jungle to see not-Achilles dragging a boar large enough to feed all of them for multiple weeks on a stretcher, Illya's bear pulling it like a gore-smeared sled dog. A massive icicle stuck out of the corpse's eye, but otherwise it seemed perfectly salvageable.
Deciding that discretion was the better part of valor, he began to sidle towards not-Achilles to see what he could do to help prepare dinner.
____________________________________________________________________________
The anchor dropped with the sun, and the Hind was fixed in place.
Kirschtaria gave a light wave as he retired to the cabin within the shifting ship, courtesy of Drake, her Grail, and Matthew and Medea's combined ingenuity.
Even as the humans began to settle down, the majority of Servants milled around.
Musashi leaned on the rail near the bow, Cu Chulainn seated to her side and quietly speaking with her.
Caeneus looked around exaggeratedly before following Drake into her cabin, as though he had a concept of things like shame. Drake certainly didn't, given she was leading him by the belt buckle.
Ritsuka sighed, sitting next to the main mast and watching the sun set.
"It's already been two days," Mash murmured to his side. "And we still haven't found a ley line."
"At least we still have contact with Chaldea," Ritsuka countered. "And we haven't had to fight yet." He frowned.
"Tomorrow."
He looked up.
"We'll get Matthew to ask his 'source' tomorrow and play oracle for a heading." Mash folded her hands in her lap. "He'll probably hit himself for not doing it earlier."
"Mm." Ritsuka watched Kuzuki and Medea lean against the wall by the cabins, watching the stars come out one by one. He considered… no. This wasn't the time.
Maybe after they got home he could put Cu Chulainn's advice into action. Mash didn't need the distraction.
"How is Raphael?" he settled on asking.
"Quiet. I think they feel guilty about Caeneus. Even if Poseidon was the one who hurt him, Raphael feels guilt by association because they're also connected to the sea." Mash frowned. "When I investigated his legend, I expected many things but not that."
Ritsuka was confused. "I don't understand," he admitted, vocalizing it.
"Poseidon assaulted him," Mash said simply. "Then gave him a boon. He asked for a man's body so that he would never suffer like that again."
It took a moment for Ritsuka to process that. "Oh," he whispered.
"He became a tyrant-king, not least due to the impenetrable skin Poseidon threw into the bargain." Mash frowned. "Ultimately he died by being buried in tree trunks - compression rather than being stabbed."
Ritsuka felt ill. "I. See. That's horrible."
"It is," Mash agreed. "But showing that or expressing anything close to sympathy would just draw his ire."
"Learning about our crewmates, eh?"
Ritsuka and Mash looked up.
Achilles leaned overhead, forearm braced against the mast. His hawklike eyes gazed down, a mix of curiosity and something else in them.
"Achilles," Mash acknowledged.
"Ah. That's me. Though, you seem to have something about you." He looked at Ritsuka, meeting his eyes. "Something familiar. I have memories of a summoning, but I don't think we've met. But you seem familiar." He pursed his lips. "It's like a splinter, and I'm not going to be able to rest easy till I yank it out."
"Did you meet a person named Shotaro Aramiya?" Ritsuka asked.
Achilles' eyes widened. "Ah. You know him?" A grimace crossed his face. "Poor lad. He wasn't any kind of warrior, and keeping him prisoner was cruel. I don't know what became of him, in the end. What they…" Achilles looked away.
"He said he met you, yes. He's my father."
Achilles jerked. "So he's well. And wed?" he asked, a hopeful look on his face as he stepped back.
"Yes. He… he was under a curse for a long time. But with everything," and with that Ritsuka gestured to the ring in the heavens, "he was converted into a Pseudoservant by a coalition of goddesses."
Achilles folded his arms and frowned. "He can't enjoy that. I don't remember him being a fighter." He scratched his cheek with a faint blush. "I remember… he was like if a certain someone was younger than me. It wasn't remotely the same, mind - but though he had the fire to fight, he wouldn't enjoy it."
"Considering the gods and heroes that power him, that makes sense." Ritsuka sighed. "He's contracted to my little sister. He goes by Kagutsuchi, sometimes. Hephaestus at others."
Achilles scowled. "So his leg never healed. I see." Achilles huffed. "Well, that's one mystery solved. One other and I'm set I guess." He tapped his foot and gave Ritsuka a speculative look.
"If you answer my question, I'll answer yours," Ritsuka offered.
Mash shot him a curious look.
"Mm. Depends on the question, but I'll hear it before deciding at least." Achilles cracked his neck, and when his eyes met Ritsuka's again his bearing was… open. He'd been affable before, but now he seemed outright friendly. "Shoot."
"How did you end up on the Hind?"
Mash hummed. "I wondered, too. Were you called by Captain Drake's Grail?" she pondered aloud.
"Ah, no. We just sort of ran into each other. I was wandering aimlessly, killing serpents as my chariot raced across the waves, and unlike me she had a heading and wasn't wasting energy manifesting her vehicle. Convenience, really." Achilles shrugged. "Sis' story was the first I heard of the big one, but honestly I'm amazed the littles haven't come after us since you joined up." He grinned playfully. "Maybe you lot are a good luck charm or repellant. Either way, fighting them got old so I'll take it."
Ritsuka felt himself warm a little more towards the Servant. "Right. So what were you wondering?"
"What's with your fairy? He skirts the edges of the ship, and any time I get close it's like he vanishes. At first he was bold as brass, but now he's like a vision at sea." Achilles frowned. "I don't have any issue with him, just wanted to check and see if some information I got was true."
Mash coughed into her fist and looked away.
"It isn't our place to say, but he does admire you," Ritsuka admitted. "He… well, you know how he and Cu Chulainn…?" he trailed off with an intent look.
"Oh, yeah. Hm. His name, is he closer to modern day?" Achilles rubbed his chin.
"He's… well, we thought he was a Demi-Servant, like me," Mash explained. "My spirit is Galahad. He has some sort of spiritual contract with the high goddess of Avalon, whose name was given to King Arthur's sister."
"Whoa." Achilles' eyebrows shot up. "So there's no spirit in there?"
Mash and Ritsuka both froze. Slowly, they looked at each other.
"Because, I mean- if there's not something living there, something had to prepare the way for that. Being touched by a god and not born to it is incredibly destructive. If I didn't have my mother's blood, I wouldn't have survived the fire that gave me my invulnerability," Achilles pointed out. "And not just in the 'no longer human' respect."
"There's… a sort of black mana he gives off sometimes," Mash said slowly.
"A clue," Achilles agreed. "But we're straying. What's his deal with me?"
Ritsuka sighed. "He admires you because, as he put it, your relationship with Patroclus settled his 'bi crisis'. Essentially reading that tale made him aware that such things weren't unique or new."
Achilles leaned back, eyebrows raised. "...I think I see. Honestly, even for our time our bond was unusual. Some cities let their fighters connect on that level, others didn't. And even when we were younger, it wasn't quite the social norm. But it certainly wasn't taboo."
"It's viewed as a good thing in more progressive circles nowadays," Ritsuka acknowledged.
Achilles smiled. "Really?"
"Though there are those who disagree," Mash acknowledged. "Personally? I think they're wrong." Her voice dropped an octave and Ritsuka wouldn't be surprised if there was frost on the deck at the words.
It was a reminder that though Mash could be mild-mannered, could be irritated with Matthew, he wouldn't advise anyone to come for her sibling. Not within shield-bashing range.
And with the heat on the back of his neck, Ritsuka admitted to himself he rather liked the idea of that personality shielding him, too.
Achilles hummed. "So… any idea where he is?"
On habit, Ritsuka reached out to his bond with Matthew - that much was similar to his other Servants - and lightly checked his senses. He'd 'walked in' on the fairy and the Lancer and the Rider and the Saber once. Once was enough.
Something cool wrapped around him, but not going into his mouth or nose. It was dark, but a faint light cast ahead. And he was going down.
Ritsuka bolted to his feet. "Fu-!" He cut himself off. "He's overboard!"
Achilles' jaw dropped. "He's that bashful!?"
Mash drew a deep breath. "RAPHAEL!"
A blur of pink shot out of her shield, up into the air, and straight down into the sea.
____________________________________________________________________________
Down, down, down.
What lies beneath the surface? I had to know. There was something down there, something I could feel. Not hear, or see, or smell. But something that sent lightning along my very bones.
Are you sure? There's no turning back. I know secrets, and from all things… I am intimately aware of this one.
What is it? I want to know. Something… something in me is crying out for it. I need to know what this thing is.
I can't tell you. That's part of what it is. But once you claim it, it's yours. Whether you can use it is something else entirely. Though I will say this: the nature of this Singularity is what makes it possible for it to even be found. The entire seafloor, and one small object. But here, in this ring, all the sea is just here. Outside is nothing but flame. So by the nature of it all…
This is where it must be.
Faintly, I was aware of a large form matching my pace. My armor gleamed, and I saw Orion's face, frowning as water passed around him with ease. Concern flickered in his dark eyes.
I smiled a little, and let Aoibheal pull me further below.
We fell together, past where any human could survive. It should have frozen me. Should have crushed me. But my arms and armor slid me into the ocean's belly like a knife of silver and bone. I pierced deeper, opening the dark to the light, heedless of what injury could come.
For a moment, the dark below was covered by an expanse of white - until whatever it was passed. In its path trailed small crimson streams, flecked with dark scales.
Orion's eyes bugged, but as he saw me continue to fall he continued on at my side.
After far too long, I landed on something solid. The bottom. The end of the line.
Around me was sand. Near me was a gaping maw deeper down into the earth, but what called me wasn't there. I walked away from it, easily as if I strode through Chaldea's halls. No current dissuaded me. Nothing pushed or pulled, so far from the moon. The water here was dead and still, save for that displaced by the hunter and I.
Orion couldn't speak, but the near-panic on his face said enough. Our tour would likely end soon, if only because he was making grabby hands at me and pointing upwards.
A faint pink light entered my vision from above - ah.
I noticed Rits' trying to reach out to me. I opened the link, letting him feel what I felt emotionally.
The feedback was more annoyed than anything, with the implication that it would be to my pride's health if I returned on my own at the first instant. And the implication that I should talk to Achilles some time before we ran into the enemy.
...though that white mass indicated the enemy had already tried to make contact, and consistently failed. Drastically.
Y O U. A R E. W E L C O M E.
With that, I stumbled, my foot hitting something relatively small and rectangular. I leaned down to catch myself, and in the process grabbed hold.
It was old. From a time when tablets were the preferred means of record, when paper was but an idea in someone's head. And yet, there it was - encased in some fibrous cover with a language that I could not read. Me, with the power of the Universal Tongue!
The 'paper' within shimmered, thin and translucent with an almost prismatic edge. Yet said edge denied light, merely colors without illumination. The cover was the pale sand of desert dunes, and the writing was carved into its surface.
What was this?
Enochian. I would call it a dialect, but only one of the Host knew it - for they created it. After all, it would not do for secrets to be uncovered without effort or discretion.
Who…?
There was no response. It was almost as though whoever it was who had been guiding me all this time was holding his breath.
So I picked up the book.
____________________________________________________________________________
Ritsuka glared out over the sea, chest heaving in anger.
That idiot. That moron. When he got back, he was going to yell at him so much- After he hugged him.
Then yelling.
A quick look indicated that Cu Chulainn was very much on board with this line of thinking, and Mash wasn't far behind.
A bolt of pink shot out of the water.
"Dear Father in the Vaults of Heaven, How Is It Still Alive-"
Raphael's panicked cry fell on open ears, shortly before the ocean broke in half.
Darkness split like a gaping wound, giving way to pale bone. A massive eye, jet set in opal, gazed upon the ship as the sea-going mountain of flesh towered over the Hind.
Pale as marble, majestic in stature, despite disrupting the surface of the sea the Hind didn't so much as stir. Ritsuka knew, in his bones, that this was by design.
Drake erupted from her cabin, half-dressed and hat askew, boots unlaced. She opened her mouth to shout, but nothing came.
The being, which could only be benign - for if it was not, they would have already been drowned - halted its ascent.
Ritsuka? Ritsuka! Raphael? How-? Ritsuka, that's the prophet-swallower! The white whale! Kin to Leviathan itself!
"Rits! Hey Rits!"
He slowly looked upward.
Matthew waved happily, slung over Orion's arm. Artemis hovered behind him, utterly placid despite her lover's look of extreme hysteria.
"It's all good! Apparently Fou speaks Cetacean!"
Orion leapt from the creature's back, Matthew and the moon goddess in tow.
The trio landed on the deck, and even Cu was lost for words.
Matthew paused, and turned to look at the rapidly submerging Divine Beast. He raised a hand, which held a book that Ritsuka was incapable of describing in his state of shock.
"Thanks for the lift, miss Moby! And good hunting for those weird snake-things!"
____________________________________________________________________________
The nature of Sheol, the first iteration of 'hell' in Abrahamic religion, was simply darkness. A place without light or sound, fumbling in the dark away from the eyes of the creator and the living. No echoes, no sight.
But imagine, for a moment, that even after the gates were shut, even after the concept of an afterlife was no longer in effect - something remained.
Imagine something shaped like a human. With sienna skin and eyes the white-gray of common quartz. With not a stitch of hair visible. With clothes that materialized on their body. Clothes like a professor, with a suit and jacket of off-white and a pitch-black tie.
With twelve wings that spread behind him, of a multitude of animals - not connected to his body, but hovering behind. Bird and bat and insect, fins of fish aligned. Not all his, but some to which he could claim ownership.
And imagine, if you would, that his head was not completely human. That something like the shattered rack of a stag's antlers, toned like the bones of a ram's horns, jutted from the sides of his forehead. Broken, torn away - but not wholly gone.
As though of a crown discarded by force of will.
And so, the last one would ask someone to imagine is this:
Imagine him crying in joy and relief. As though his story had an end in sight.
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Sort of puts Fou's power in perspective. The bigger human civilization grows, the stronger he gets.
Can he speak Unladen Swallow though?
Sounds like one of the Fallen Angels trapped in Sheol? Samael, perhaps, but the physical description doesn't match, nor does the implied role.
EDIT: and the book is the book of Enoch.
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Blinktwice13
Underpaid Struggle Bus Attendant
- Location
- Eastern US
- Pronouns
- He/Him
So in his part of Fourfold Secrets, I established Raziel was the last living thing in Sheol. He didn't go in looking like that, but the changes came later. For Reasons.
The book is Sefer Raziel HaMalach.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Kudos for not doing something as banal, boring and unoriginal as some variation of "Are you blind? Duh."
- Location
- Hell
Oh.
Oh no.
OH SHIT!
IS THAT?!
Is this plot point going to play a devil's advocate twist?
Meh we will see.
Still.
apparently now we have a confirmation, that Mathew has both mama and papa.
But oh lala.
What a dad is that.
Oh no.
OH SHIT!
IS THAT?!
Is this plot point going to play a devil's advocate twist?
Meh we will see.
Still.
apparently now we have a confirmation, that Mathew has both mama and papa.
But oh lala.
What a dad is that.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
That was a properly magnificent, grandiose depiction of an entity beyond Divine Beasts and akin to Typhon of all being in power.
- Location
- Not here
If this doesn't end with Orion riding into battle upon Moby Dick/Jonah's Whale I'm going to be slightly disappointed.