KNIGHT OF SKY SILVER

:: Fuck This Shit, I’m Out ::

So, there’s a certain incident that’s been going on the past couple of days. To be honest, I wanted to drop this post about it a whole lot sooner, but out of respect for the victim of this in question, I chose to hold off until it hit a pretty evident conclusion. 

Because god only knows if I said anything, it’d be used against her in some ridiculous fashion given my proximity to the circumstances.

Yeah, I was keeping up with the play-by-play on all of this, and frankly, it’s abhorrent.  And no, I’m not putting this under a read more; we’re going PSA on this.

Seeing as how this all went down without any kind of human decency from any of the guilty parties, I have no intention on being gentle with any of you.

So! Let’s start with the weasel responsible who’s been making the rounds on anon.

I saw those asks she was sent. Our little firestarter, hiding behind that mask? You’re a gutless snake.

“Oh but- but defending yourself just makes you look MORE SUSPICIOUS you really should just admit it tho” fuck that and fuck you, I can read between the lines. “If I try and look amicable, maybe I’ll get you to bow down”, that’s what your ass is looking for, and don’t you dare pretend anything otherwise. 

Don’t think you’re clever or unique; I’ve seen this exact shit too many times before. It’s always the same with your type. You stir up the most ridiculous, inflammatory slander, you mask yourself on anon and act all mousy and friendly to get them to budge just a little pretending you’re some totally-different-stranger, and then you go all in with the most hurtful and abrasive shit you can muster now that you’ve gotten your foot in the door. You’re a manipulator, and you disgust me. 

But above all? You’re pathetic.  Lemmie guess, no job? No meaningful relationships or hobbies that keep you occupied? That’s the usual impetus. You have nothing going for you and no better use of your time; the only way you can get any kind of excitement in your life is to try and ruin someone on social media, sling as much dirt you can their way, try and turn their friends and other contacts against them, make up some salacious bullshit or start spreading some asinine rumors to spice that up however you can, and you drag it out. You drag it out to milk as much empty schadenfreude as you can get before you have to return to your miserable doldrums without a target to harass.

Funny thing is, for all the hurt you’ve done? She actually has stable income and a life. That’s likely far more than anybody’ll be able to say about you for a good, long time.

Oh, but we’re not done yet. Mods, mods, mods – let’s talk about you for a hot minute.

That person spent so much time being worried over this, presented clear and concise reasoning for her position, wanted to make sure she handled this as properly and well-organized as possible on your account – and none of it was considered at all. Mods, I know full damn well you didn’t even try to give it a look. All you kept replying with was, “yeah, but we’re triggered by the idea so you’re out though, lul”. Even those she knew didn’t try to actually vouch for her, they just kept informing her of the childishly stubborn refusal to budge. You couldn’t be more transparent in this behavior if you were made of fucking glass.

There wasn’t an ounce of good faith in any of this. She kept trying to play by your standards but you kept shifting the goalpost every time because you had no intention of fair assessment to begin with. Words of wisdom from one of my Psych teachers, “You can’t have a discussion with someone who’s already decided for themselves that anything you say is wrong.”

Your heads are getting too big. I mean, it started way back with banning entire series from application, not even R-rated or pornographic, just exclusively because they bothered your little feefees, but the slow burn’s been encroaching. Now you’re making irresponsible judgement calls and acting on sensationalism rather than anything remotely resembling good sense. 

The fact that at least one of you has bias in this instance towards getting rid of her because she has muses you want doesn’t help matters.

This exact shit is why citta-alverea sunk, and you’re not gonna be too far behind at this rate. A bullshit incident like this is just where it starts. 

I mean, keeping someone around who nuked the masterlist because of relationship issues certainly wasn’t a good start in the first place.

So, out just like that, without anything of an honest say?  Well, nifty. So am I.

It should go without saying. I mean, you’ve tarred and feathered my friend on a whim with one of the worst labels you can put on a person, and you think “just try again in six months teehee” helps the situation? As if any of the people she’s RPing with are still going to be here, to speak nothing of being able to come back after what you’ve just done; fuck off, nobody’s dumb enough to buy that.

Besides. To begin with, the job that just got started with her Roll Caskett? Obviously can’t proceed now. I tried to get Kunio involved with other Atlus muses, but I keep getting passed over, so there’s no point in him sticking around if Ume’s gone. And for crying out loud, I apped Arthur for her to begin with.

So, that’s about the long and short of it. Though I do have some specific words in parting to give–

@gungnirclad​, @beyond-use​, thank you for your interest in the guild. Sorry about this turn of events; I’d been drafting up some introductory job things, but seems that won’t be taking off. I wish you luck in finding other jobs for your muses!

@edgeworthwrightanythingagency, assuming this place is being checked anymore, Kunio’s out in the investigators as well. Hey, upside, there’s another open investigator slot for muses so inclined.

For all the Fate muses who gave Arthur a great opening, thanks, seriously. I got a pretty universally warm reception, and it didn’t go unappreciated. Never forget Roman is guilty of brownie crimes.

Mods? …I can’t really say anything. Pretty sure you’re beyond help.  Our little upstart who’s probably so proud of themselves? [ by request of the actual victim in this situation, I’ve been asked to specify the obvious that this is not speaking in regards to real csa victims of which the instigator is obviously not, not for you jokers’ sake ] you are bad and you should feel bad

Oh, and the responsible party who started this shit; if you want to go stirring the pot in my inbox for speaking out against this?  Go ahead. Anon’s off. Put up or shut up.

“…”

How did he reach that conclusion? Was he actually an idiot? 

“Don’t misunderstand, that is definitively not what I’m trying here! I’d never call you da– No, nevermind. I will not say it, not even to explain myself.” Granted, admitting she was only teasing and being a complete a fool for the sake of it wasn’t particularly favouring to the cause. “It’s a celebration, we cannot miss this one for you either. I can surely ease the concerns of a family man with my charms! This is for the sake of becoming a wonderful wife, nothing else!” 

And now to save her own pelt.

“So... What, then?” Arthur tilts his head to one side, scratching at a temple, puzzled. “Are you telling me you wish to roleplay a wife role with me on account of me being a father on Father’s Day?”

Arthur folded his arms over his chest, humming.

“Wh–” What a way to steal her thunder, robbed from the moment and also to break her  composure. Not a trace of the playful fox was left, only a flustered mess. “Nononono, just wait a second you… you devilish king! You cannot do that to ME and act like it is no big deal!” It was definitively not a big deal. She had been caught by surprise and to be placed in such an embarrassing position was not something she can let go. Rather than removing her hand, she grabs his own. 

Now neither can go on running from this.

“You’re a father, right!? Then it’s set, you’re staying with me tonight!”

“Oh- Oh, my goodness.” Arthur himself seems to become flustered as Tamamo abruptly snatches his hand to ensure he can’t leave her. “You wish for me to give you company -- for Father’s Day?”

He puts heavy emphasis, trying to get his point across.

“...Caster, I-- do understand you don’t follow social norms, but...”

“Any single father interested to have a bit of companionship today, I might know the best place to be–”

Arthur just-- quietly chuckles, gently graspring Tamamo’s fingers and lifting her hand towards his face. He’s well aware of her long-sought-after desire, after all.

“May you one day find the right soul to celebrate this day with, Caster.”

“Forgive my rudeness, your majesty but you are sorely mistaken about the intent of my gift!” She was so ashamed for attempting to correct the king, if her cheeks weren’t naturally rosy anyone would point how they were brighter than usual. Remaining calm had to be primordial, otherwise her efforts would go to waste!

Leaving her actual father had been easier than congratulating her own king, how silly…

“I was informed of today’s holiday, Father’s day and– I thought that I could offer something. Please think of this gift as a symbol of our affection, from me and my dearest brothers!” Yes, including Agravain. The siblings were so different but their loyalty was strong and representing the entire group was a given with half of them missing. 

“Your majesty is also my uncle and a father, certainly calling you my own parent would be insolent but acknowledging your title surely is fine, right?” Hesitant, the Lancer outstretched her arms– she was shaking as she closed the gap, shaking alone from embarrassment. This was quite the insolent demeanour and surely, would award her some type of scolding later. Gareth remained an innocent girl, one who wanted to denote her love properly and if the other knights aren’t present then it should be possible. 

Just for a bit, she can hold her family close. 

“I pray that I’m not overstepping boundaries with my actions. I’ll gladly accept any complain later.”

Arthur’s expression went blank in unison with his thoughts as an, in his mind, impossible miracle occurred. Gareth, his knight he had failed, his understudy he couldn’t save, the girl he allowed to die at the hands of the man once his best friend... She had stepped forward, prclaimed him her family-- and had embraced him.

His body became as stone, and a chill of some unknown terror swept through his veins like ice as the warmth clinging to his front frightened him like nothing ever had before.

This wasn’t right. He wasn’t allowed to be this. He wasn’t meant to be human. His reason for being was to serve a purpose to the world.

H-He wasn’t-- ...He couldn’t--?

A long-forgotten sensation then began to emerge from somewhere he couldn’t place. It was a feeling that bewildered him, defied all he knew. It was a feeling he had never known since... Since the night in the greenhouse. Where the purity of innocence broke away the chains on his heart, whispering to him words kinder than he had ever known. Those words now came to him once more.

It’s okay. You can have this. You can let go. You can be human.

What would come next was decidedly not the act of any Heroic Spirit nor legend.

This was not Arthur Pendragon the King. This was not Arthur Pendragon the Knight. With quivering arms, Arthur Pendragon the Man embraced his niece.

His arms coiled around her in a snug vice, not compressing but also not relenting. His head came down over her shoulder, holding the smaller girl close in a way he hadn’t anyone else for a long, long time.

His shoulders began to shake. From somewhere over her shoulder, Gareth would feel tiny warm droplets making contact with her skin.

“Thank you.”

@excaliburproto​

“If you allow me to be so bold, your majesty… I have prepared a small token of my gratitude for you. This is not only to show appreciation to our king but to a wonderful uncle and a guiding light to all us.”

And with that, the younger knight presented to the king a small batch of cookies. All that time stuck as a ‘kitchen boy’ had to be of use.

Arthur found himself stricken silent. It was much like Gareth to do this kind of thing, but Arthur had to wonder...had she done this-- due to the occasion, or--?

No, no, surely not. When it came to her family grouping, it was almost exclusively her siblings and Mordred, and why shouldn’t it be? What had he done in life that could garner inclusion in such a thing?

Father’s Day...

Arthur allows his eyes to drift shut as several figures come unbidden to his mind. The younger knights whom he’d helped bring up into fine champions of justice.

Gawain... Gareth...

...Mordred...

,,,Well. It’s not as though he had any right to grumble, yes? Even though he’d been there for the former more than their “actual” father, it’s not like the inhuman perfect king had ever shown them the warmth they deserved in life.

And Mordred... He had no right to want anything of Mordred.

A small, bittersweet smile comes to his face as his eyes open once more, looking out over the city.

/This was me, sorry! It won’t let me send you a meme yet so it sent as like this. My bad! /

He was a peculiar exemption to what one can consider normal, even as a Servant. Tamamo did not really respect and she always had a sense of superiority toward her peers. She knew quite a bit more than the average but never interfered, which was incredibly cruel of her part. One can only assume she did not care at all but in fact, it was the opposite. Her concern and fear prevented her from acting, shackled by fear. 

Her teasing might have strung a chord in Arthur, whose factions (while beautiful) wounded up expressing sadness. She was quite confused, robbed of words and from attempting to pursue even further her terrible attempt at diverting the conversation.

“Stop it.” 

It had incredibly bothered her so for now, she had to shed her mask and be a firm woman. Showing such a serious face was no good for her heart. It was, after all, a sincere and she was just a lying fox. Keeping her reputation as a trickster was hard after proving herself as a kind creature, whose care and deep love for humanity poured in her words.

Tamamo placed her hand upon his, unsure if out of comfort or to draw attention toward her. 

“That self-sacrificial tomfoolery. How am I to take your words when you have no hope for yourself? If someone like you has no chance at happiness then I deserve it less. You are insulting a lost cause with your sadness. Don’t tell me our king only knows how to provide lip-service.” 

Sabers always managed to rile her up, was this an actual pattern? Oh, dear.

“What makes you so special that you cannot desire for something? You stupid handsome man, your task is just a bit above us but it doesn’t exempt you from human desire. You were a man once, blessed or not – you were still a man. Servant or not, it remains in you. A human life span, human weakness and a human soul. A pure human life, full of glories and mistakes. Bring your nonsense to a Servant that has not experienced godship, they may be able to buy your silly thoughts.”  

Because a king was nothing in the eyes of a fox, of a beast that was once worshipped as a goddess. As a mere fragment of Amaterasu herself, a ruler is a spec in the world below her.

“Most of us do not desire for the grail, even I do not care for its existence. No matter if I remain here less, no matter if my own fate is to be defeated. I will be more than doomed if you do not have a single selfish wish in your heart. Will you truly fail even this villain, Arthur?”

Arthur’s eyes took a slight sharper edge when Tamamo purported that he had no desire, no hope. Really? Come now, he wasn’t the same spirit he was when he was first summoned for the farce known as the Holy Grail War.

“It’s hardly that I am without hope, nor that I feel no desire at all, but...I am well aware of my own limitations, and my weaknesses.” He gingerly pushes her hands clasped over his back towards herself. “A man who cannot care for his wife has no business being a husband. I am many things, Tamamo no Mae, and many of which I can be proud of. But knowing what it is to be ‘human’ is not among them.”

He gave a slow shake of the head, looking her square in the eyes to convey his meaning. He had failed as a husband once, and he didn’t believe he was any better for any woman to love then he was back then; not yet.

“I daren’t imagine making another woman so unsatisfied as I once did before.”

It was then, amidst her passionate lecture, that Tamamo said something. It was something that, compared to the rest of her purpose in her words, was entirely secondary. Indeed, it was something tossed in completely offhand, from the sound of it.

“...My ‘task’...?”

In her fervor, it seems the fox had made an error. She had just indicated knowledge she should not have.

Arthur had not hidden his origin from the other Servants. They all knew he was ‘from another world’. But only two souls knew why, one of whom had taken that knowledge to his grave in defeating the First Beast.

There was only one reason anybody else should be aware of his purpose. And that... That would be...

“...”

Arthur was silent for some moments, his expression entirely neutral, but perhaps most worrying were his eyes. They were fixed upon Tamamo now, steady, unblinking, devoid of any indication as to what might be running across his mind -- he seemed be looking through her.

For his part, Arthur wasn’t sure how to proceed. He couldn’t overlook what he had just heard. He couldn’t ignore what this might mean. Yet, here, now, was surely not the place. They had come here as acquaintances. She was attempting to help, in her own capacity. He couldn’t do this now.

Then, slowly, the smile began to creep back up upon his face. Ah, yes, there it was. It came as a breath of fresh air, to him; an ample opening to do some good. A chance to salvage this little debacle.

“...No, I don’t believe I’ll ‘fail the villain before me’, not hardly. I actually think I can assist her a great deal. Especially given she’s just fed me a great deal she herself refuses to adhere to.”

He sat a little higher now, leaning forward, hands clasping together on the table.

“ You truly believe that your manifestation can only have one purpose, don’t you...? Caster--”

‘If I were to tell you, you might laugh!!’ The waitress’ demeanour was an attack at her feminine charms and complete disregard of Tamamo as a threat – even with her vicious gaze, the female staff was only showing a tender expression in return to Arthur’s demeanour. He did not do anything of out the extraordinary, it was pure politeness and yet…! It was terribly infuriating! She had no idea who was pissing her off more, the knight or the innocent waitress.

Her drink was completely ignored, she only heard him out for the sake of pretending she was not bothered. Though, at the mention of Master, her ire subdued. Perked up ears dropped, once again showing the obviousness of her feelings. 

“Master is… truly a wonderful person, right? I can completely understand why others fall for her. I was completely smitten when we met but I understand that there’s only so much I can do.” Tamamo no Mae desired to be chosen, to be more than second best for someone. She did not know how or why such emotion existed in her, but it remained strongly. The mere notion of having to withstand such rejection from the one she loved was not one she wanted to experience. 

Never again. 

In another future, even she was not the one.

“My feelings of love can be poured in protecting her and her dream, this is the reason why I was summoned. Being at her side is enough. I want her to be happy. Don’t you want that too?” A half-true can suffice, she was not good enough to be so selfless but neither foolish to know when she had already lost a fight. Burning was for those of pure heart and a rotten creature such as this fox can protect herself.  

And for that very reason, she had to keep playing coy. Elbows atop the table, an expression full of interest and the smile of a predator. Cat-like and curious, the Caster leaned subtly to eye him closer. 

“To follow your plan, though… I might need a bit of help.”

“So… won’t you be my husband?”

“Hmhm... Yes, that seems to be the general consensus.” Arthur returned with a patient smile of understanding. “I can’t quite say it to be the same with me. Then again, I suppose she didn’t exactly call me forth from the Throne...”

Tamamo wouldn’t know the meaning behind those words, nor would anyone besides the Master of Chaldea herself. She hadn’t summoned Arthur of her own -- the two had met by happenstance. It was from a cosmic coincidence, a fleeting hope of the late once-Solomon, that they came into contact with one another, and it was from that contact Arthur was able to be stabilized within their world, spirited away from his journey to aid in their cause.

At her playful proposition, however, the King fell uncomfortably silent.

Who knows what sort of reaction Tamamo was vying for when she spoke those words? Given her character, perhaps she was looking to distract herself by getting a flustered outburst, or a nervous blush? Any such reaction one might expect a man to have when spoken to so by such a beautiful woman.

But the only thing showing upon the face of Sir Arthur now -- was a dying enthusiasm, melting away in record time, the smile slipping from his features by the second.

“...My lady Tamamo no Mae. Take what I am about to say to heart.” He brings a hand up slowly to rest over his breast. “I have no wish for the Grail. My life, for however long it may last, exists surely to protect the future of others. All others. Including yourself.”

“ Alrighty. “

          “ Who wants to help me make sushi out of gas station junk food? “ no, she did not sleep and instead stayed up all night watching videos.

“...”