思い / 重い

   “A scratch pad and fountain pen aren’t things that normal people carry with them. I know I don’t look like the kind of person who utters an unfair share of verbal threats, but I promise they’re all empty, officer. Moreover, you’re supposed to make yourself known when you’re trying to question a suspect.”

   “Every day you cycle down this road and for the last week your front tire has been completely flat. Do you really not notice it, or is your sense of balance so strong you feel no need to fix it?”

   "Not that I would know all that much about being a main character, but when you're only rewarded, at best, a non-canon route in a handheld spinoff sequel..."

He listened to her words closely, never changing from the pose he was summoned in. For a brief moment, he pictured himself in a uniform different from what his usual attire was. If that’s what his master wanted, he would not argue. Though, the idea seemed to only serve as a joke, if he had to guess. His tail twitched unconsciously behind him, tapping against the ground. She seemed to have nothing specific in mind for him, and the Alter had to formulate something for himself.

He mimicked her gesture and tilted his head to the side, remaining silent as she thought.

When the other reached out her hand, Cu simply stared at it for a moment. Then, he dismissed his spear and awkwardly stretched out his hand to try and grab her hand. The issue came from the claws that were longer than his own fingers. With an unusual care, he wrapped his claws around her fingers. The material that covered his hands stopped him from feeling her skin against his.

With one shake, he removed his hand, never taking his master out his line of sight.

‘Please treat me well.’

The Berserker closed his eyes for a moment. It may have been a passing comment, but it was all he could work with. It helped that she saw him as just him, something that was summoned to her, and nothing more.

“I am your Berserker,” he opened his eyes and forced a dark toothy smile, akin to a shark, “I will do as you wish, Hitagi.”

   Her line of sight never left him as he returned the gesture. The last time she shook hands with anyone considered a monster was with that cat, and while he lacked the buzz of its energy drain he felt decidedly stronger. More fearsome. If Hitagi had to say, the probable victor if he had to fight that apparition.

   Berserker. The title fit the image, though the subsequent impressions she got from him were much different. He was tactful in returning her handshake, but indifferent to the situation. Senjougahara was a woman who historically took the worst impression as the first impression, but this was different. The impression wasn’t anything more than the dark, muddied color of mixed paints.

   Was he really Cu Chulainn?

   “Like I said, I don’t know what you’re supposed to do, so don’t rely on me for orders. Please keep me alive, and keep yourself alive. Better yet, let’s keep each other on level ground--is there anything you need me to do?” She still had no idea what her role as a Master entailed, but as selfish a person as she was it did not sit right with her to take from a stranger without returning the favor.

   But--

   “Even though I’m on a different plane of existence now, please keep in mind my status as someone who is already faithfully committed to an intimate relationship. I am no Aife, Emer or Fand, nor can you ever expect my name to come after theirs in your conquests.”

@crabwalks // event

     “The amount of money they’re handing out sure is a lot.” Musing spoken out loud, but not to himself, more so idly directed towards another individual. Oz isn’t yet quick enough to call them an acquaintance or companion of any sort, having just met not even a minute prior. Names haven’t been exchanged, but he is friendly just the same. He had aided in getting rid of some rather stubborn infected; now he rests, body weight leaning primarily against his scythe since there’s no convenient wall near enough. “Though with all this work that’s involved in getting it and how dangerous this whole setup is, I wonder if it’s really worth it.” Not that he was specifically after the money anyway, but he had ran across many that were.

   “Of course it’s not worth it.” It was the first real exchange Senjougahara had with the stranger, but she wasted no time in being spiteful. She didn’t like being here to begin with, and moreover she didn’t like the burden of collecting the fragments being thrust upon her regardless of what was in it for her.

@crabwalks   /   event starter.

     ❛   hey! get back here!   ❜   she shouts at the top of her lungs at the burnt enemy crawling away from her. normally ann would never be so vicious, but with the fragments it steals from her, you better believe she’s pissed! eyes narrow as something dangerous flashes behind them, adrenaline fueling her forward. when she notices a nearby person striding towards them, she’s quick to call their attention.   ❛   hey! stop that person! trip them or something!   ❜

   All Hitagi could do at the demand was cock her head, a disinterested glance cast at the blonde bound toward her. Even now she had no interest in meddling in others affairs, especially when she was busy with her own, and she had no interest in being invited into others affairs either.

   “You seem to have things under control.” She stopped in her tracks as she spoke, eyes moving from the other girl to whatever it was running from her. “Did you really think I was going to help you for a few fragments you won’t share with me anyway?” As enticing as the reward was for participating in city cleanup was, the problem it resulted from wasn’t her responsibility; she was only out to buy some food.

The man looked at the woman before her, his scarlet eyes locked upon her own. He stood tall before her. His barbed spear stood taller in his hand. A weapon made with the idea to hurt others as much as the one in possession of it. Barbs were threatening to pierce the flesh and clothing of his hand, if his claws curled around the weapon didn’t do so first. A spiked tail lazy swayed behind him, the spikes scratching up the floor, part of it hidden behind a cape. The fur on his shoulders matched the colors of his eyes, and outlined his face and expression. Although, his expression seemed defaulted to a blank, uninteresting stare.

He watched her shift her weight and noticed her own deadpan expression. He noted that she was not terrified of him, and, as he narrowed his eyes ever so slightly, it was hard to gauge how she felt at the moment. Regardless, that was not important to think about now, or ever again. She was obviously his master, and his time of pondering was to cease as soon as his servitude began in earnest. If she was fearful of him, or excited, or whatever. It didn’t matter. He will become what she wants, and do as she pleases.

Her words reached his ears, but his features did not change.

“I will do what is necessary as a servant,” Alter or not, he still had his Irish accent, “It is pointless to discuss any issues I may have.” He followed the other’s gaze as she looked at the command seals etched into her skin, “I, Cu Chulainn, am responding to your summons. What is the nature of my relationship to you?”

It may have sounded as an odd question, but his past experiences and how he views himself made this question important. What did this master want him to be? What role did she want of this broken shell of a “hero” to be? Once she uttered the words of his role, he will follow it until his end. Whatever orders she barked he will follow. Whatever she wanted he will do. Deep down, in a place he wasn’t even aware of, he had a hope that this woman will be different from Medb.

   "Ah.”

   It wasn’t the response she meant to give, but it was the one that came to her the quickest. She didn’t expect this, after all. For as large and sharp and threatening as the man in front of her was, he was much more agreeable than she would have ever expected. Even if she didn’t know what she was supposed to expect, that was the very last thing.

   The hand that was raised lowered once more to cross over her chest, and her head tilted to think properly on the answer to his question.

   “So I’m Culann himself, then?” Senjougahara had heard of his legend before, but knew only bits and pieces of it. “Where I am from having servants isn’t the same as it would have been in your era--I assume. So I’m not entirely sure what your role should be. It would be amusing to have you wear a uniform and wait on me hand and foot, but it’s probably safe to say that isn’t why you’re here either.”

   Her head rolled to the other side once more, though the look on her face was more genuine confused contemplation than before. She had little idea why she was there in the first place, but if she was summoning (the term used very loosely, as she didn’t do anything in particular that warranted her servant existing at all, in her mind) beings, there had to have been a proper purpose for it. 

   ---And she refused to consider it was for any type of fighting.

   “I don’t know, then. All you are to me is someone else. So.”

   The hand branded in sigils was raised once more, this time held out to the man in earnest greeting.

IT’S BEEN LIKE 3 MINUTEs PLS

   A million years came and passed in just a few moments. Narrowed blue eyes locked dead on to the sights of the man--beast--before her. Before Senjougahara. A creature stood in front of her that would have struck fear in to the hearts of those who were not her.

   Suffice it to say, she’d already seen enough monsters in her lifetime to not feel swayed by them anymore.

   Though gods were a different story.

   No, once you took a few more seconds to see, the appearance of bone and claw did little to hide the man underneath. Though he looked no less intimidating himself than the armor wrapped around him, he was there. He did not seem impressed by her either, and for a few short seconds she couldn’t help but be a little upset that her servant wasn’t just a tiny bit cuter.

   There was no use in lamenting now--was her next immediate thought, as her weight shifted from one foot to the other. No fear, no relief, no emotion other than that felt between first-time begrudging business partners, though the coming words wouldn’t follow suit.

✂ HITAGI SENJOUGAHARA / MONOGATARI

come to office max in the next 15 minutes if u want an ass kicking

recovering tsundere just kidding she’s just as awful as ever

definitely less staplers in orifices nowadays though

the definition of all bark and no bite

kinda just wants to be a normal girl though tbh