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@somnim

[… such kind words for merely a shell of a man. But I cannot reject such words either. This form fought with every tooth and nail to reach the point where history would see his worth, allow it one last chance to redeem the blood that poured from his hands.]

Julius Harwey died being known as a man who do whatever it took to seek some form of redemption.As a creature who would commit any crime.A man who would go to any length.

As a weapon of war. 

@grandordergirl

[Will you ever truly know? No. I am afraid you will not, Master. The is the issue with the concept of right and wrong… it differs between person to person. Doing what we are doing, killing off these other worlds for the sake of the original world that was held here…] The Assassin pauses now, mulling over all of the replies he could give.

All of the kindness he could give to her… 

No. That would be much crueler. Instead, he would give her the best thing he could… the truth. 

[History gets to decide in the end if men and women like us truly did the right thing, if we were just in our actions. All I can say, is that your choice is more then any person should be forced to bear.] The temptation to hug her… no. That would be coddling her. She deserved that much respect. 

@verganno

“Don’t you dare.” Julius’ voice rung with a venom, the likes of which Nero most likely had not known since he had stood as her enemy. And now he directs this tone at her once more, stepping towards the woman he was meant to care for so dearly. “I do not care what sorry sentiment this is, where this thought that I will no longer fight as I am now.” Fists are made, Julius biting down on his bottom lip. 

“I lived, I breathed the battlefield. I made it my home, my only company the cold steel of blade and gun metal. Do not attempt to take that place from me, for I suffered enough bloodshed to…” The man wavers now, a deep breath forced into his lungs. “… I am sorry. I am sure you did not mean to make this into some argument, I just cannot leave such a place. As much as I wish for a peaceful life, men like me are not given such a thing.”

“So nothing. You are nothing, nor will you ever be anything.” She cared not for the big words the boy was using, not for the family name he was throwing around. If he was something worthy, anything, it would already be visible from the way he would hold himself. And this one carried himself like he had had the worst fate of them all - one who cursed the world for existing. One who knew not how the world worked and could not profit anything form it.

“You should worry not about her. If the child has any sense left in that pretty head of hers, she will come running back to her mother soon enough.” Though she could see that Nero had been telling tales again. That child had been nothing but trouble ever since her teachers had started putting tales and ideas in her head that merited into nothing good.

“Insect? Don’t make me laugh, boy.” She hardly could hold back the laughter from the bold words he was using. “If I am an insect, then you truly are nothing at all.”

Deep seeded hatred threatened to consume him... he could feel it crawling up his throat at her mere presence. Like... static pulsing through his brain, Julius felt his entire existence reject this woman. He rejected it. “I... I am... an insect. That is correct. However you see yourself, I will gladly allow you to accept that.”

“But you best realize this now, self conceited bitch. I do not care for what ivory tower you find yourself sitting at this moment in time...” Calm, remain calm Julius. She could likely kill you in a heart beat. “.... but that topples with time. What you were to Nero, what you did to that woman... yes it scars her, but I know she can rise above what you did to her. She doesn’t need nor want such a toxic influence in her life.”

Julius: Bitch

Agrippina: Blocked

Julius: Wait I have something else to say

Agrippina: Unblocked

“... t...that feeling.” Like as if the entire world had suddenly focused in on you for a moment. 

❀ “No… That was me.” Her expression of uncertainty seemed to disappear as she steeled her nerves, looking up at Julius with as straight of a face as she could.

“M-Meow…” She tried her best. She didn’t do well at all. 

The neutral expression still remained on her face, despite the bright red blush that was now rising to her cheeks. Still, Lily tried to continue on her path to her room, if only at a faster pace now.

“I just thought… I thought I’d test your skills! Make sure you weren’t getting rusty!” She realized how stupid it was as she spoke, but there was no going back. And she couldn’t say no when he asked her to show him what she was ‘hiding’…

“A-Alright, I…” She only took half a second, moving her arms slightly before pulling her hands out from behind her back. “I got you!” 

Her hands were empty. There may or may not be a kitten sticking out of the top back of her dress instead.

“See? Just a test!” There seemed to be a bit of a forced smile on her face now, but she was still rambling. “Anyways, I ought to-” And there it was. Another meow. “Go to my room and tidy up!” She tried her best to continue talking despite the noise.

She was doomed. ❀ 

“.....” Julius just stares, and waits. The thing is with people who attempt to lie obviously is that eventually it all crumbles without you needing to say or do anything. And so, he just goes back to what he was doing. Tea. A nice splash of milk, with a couple of sugars. Grabs the sandwich he had just finished and sits down. 

“Of course, Saber.”  Wait for it... oh. An adorable attempt to say the least there. She was actually trying to hide it within her dress now... and there it was. Another meow. A sigh passes his lips once again now, seeing that his Servant would just continue to dance around this issue. 

“Lily. Please, come sit down with me. It appears we need to have a talk.... and take the kitten out of your dress, I very much doubt it wishes to remain there.” Taking a sip, Julius sits back for a moment, rubbing his temples in the meantime. 

@molliaregna // starter call

“So, you are the one my daughter is seeing?” The man did not seem like much, and it was hard to consider that he would even be worthy enough to be seen by Nero. Agrippina could already see from the way he held himself, slouched – yet very aware of his surroundings, that he most certainly was not a common citizen but neither was he anyone of a high societal status. She frowned at the sight.

“What are you, then? Certainly not royalty or anything of the like.” Though he was certainly not worthy of her time, her curiosity had been piqued at the sight already. Nero should have a better taste in people, so certainly this was not a completely lost cause. Otherwise she would have to do something about it.

“.....”  His gaze lingers on her form for merely a moment, before moving away, the assassin taking in a deep breath at this moment. He was honestly thankful for this moment. To see this rotten bitch of a woman. She honestly reminded him of his own parents... well the one that had been around anyway. Turning back to face her now, Julius expression is one of pure disdain. 

“Indeed I am. Julius Belkisk Harwey. Former member of the Harwey Foundation’s Anti Terrorism Unit, and at this moment a freelance contractor...” Staring at her form for a moment once more, he feels a violent urge rising in his throat. “I am none of your concern, but you are mine. Do not go near Nero while you remain here. I do not care if you carry the title of her “mother”. To me, you are nothing but a mark on her mind, one that I do not wish to see disturbed once more...”

Starter Call (Closed) @molliaregna

❀ As much as she tried, there simply was no way to get past Julius without looking suspicious at the moment.

Part of that was due to the rather guilty-looking expression on her face, and another part the way her hands were held behind her back as if she was trying to hide something. Lily was hoping that he wouldn’t even be in the apartment, but it seemed her luck ran out. The Saber seemed very intent on keeping her back facing away from her Master, shuffling slowly sideways towards her room and hoping against all odds that she wouldn’t be stopped.

“H-Hi Julius! I was just out for a walk, but it’s nice to see you up!” She hadn’t known where he was earlier, only that he wasn’t there when she had left.

“Anyways, I… I’ll just be right back! I need to-” She was cut off by the slightest noise, coming from behind her back. It sounded an awful lot like a small meow. Her face seemed to pale instantly just from the sound. Quickly trying to cover it with a cough, she forced a smile at Julius while trying her best to come up with an excuse.

“J-Just a moment!” Please don’t ask what’s behind her back. ❀

Julius mulled over on the couch of their shared apartment, eyes on the small book within his grasp. Something he would never read while Lily was in the house, but even he wanted to indulge in some low grade writing ever now and again... he called it low grade, and yet he owned the entire series. Just before he got to find out if she felt the same... his eyes move to the figure of his Servant, slowly shuffling towards her room, her face obviously hiding something. If there was one of many benefits to having this girl be his Servant it was that she often wore her emotions on her sleeve.  In this case... was she hiding something from him. “Yes... I saw you were already gone this morning when I awoke.” Standing up, he approaches the girl, a curious expression remaining on his face as he approached her. 

Leaning against the railing, Nero let out a small sigh and looked up at the now darkening sky. It was going to rain soon from the look of the clouds. She had given Julius his space at the beginning, but had eventually decided to go after him. All the what-ifs kept running in her mind, as she thought about what to say. What if she had decided to take the leap of faith, what if Julius had not asked anything about their situation, what if.

“Please return with I, Julius. It doth thou nay good to stay out here.” Her hands gripping the railing even tighter, Nero cursed internally for saying it. But it was all she could say when the lump in her throat kept growing with each passing second. Despite her palms starting to slightly ache, she did not loosen the grip or move closer to Julius, instead giving him his space. No matter how much her instincts kept telling her otherwise.

Ah. Nero was here as well now. Truly, what a beautiful evening if there had ever been one... almost on cue, those clouds answered their promises to allow at least some kind of peace... with rain. Slow at first which slowly opens up more and more, drowning the world in a blanket of water that does not show a sign of ending. Finally, Julius’ form moves off of the floor, but no closer towards the Servant. 

“Why should I? I know it’s selfish, I know it’s cruel but...” That venom... the venom he had capped and held within his very soul was finally leaking out, the tears in his being allowing it to fall at his feet. “... you are the last person on this Earth I wish to stand with right now.” Teeth grit. Anger. At himself, at his actions... at her words. 

“Ah... lucky shot.” Another contract. Another target killed. But, one slip up.  One gets out.  Turn back around, and then there’s a knife in your gut. The bastard got what was coming to him at least, his own weapon still smoking, falling from his hand now to the floor. Instantly, eyes move to the wound. 

Not too deep... but I worry that it at the very least has hit something with a lot of blood flow too it. 

Judging by how dark his jacket was starting to look, that assumption might be correct. 

Footsteps? 

Well, whatever luck he had left seemed to be fading. Someone else was within this fucking compound, and they probably wouldn’t be friendly. 

“... is this even worth it...” To continue fighting, to really throw himself into a world of war once more. What else was left for a man like him... apart from this one shot.  A wish upon the Grail. A chance to redeem that which had already been lost. Redemption to his broken oath. 

He just had to make the connection, attempt to drag someone down from the Throne of Heroes to his side. Drag being the correct term here... even if he managed to kill one or even two other Masters, he would then have to compete with the rest of his opponents. 

Damn it. 

The world had fucked him over enough... couldn’t he just be the one to have this wish?!

Wait.

Something was wrong. 

It's easy to say But it's never the same I guess I kinda liked the way you numbed all the pain

Another cold night within this city. 

A figure lies on an embankment just above the river. 

He had pushed it. 

He had pushed it way too far. 

He had to try and make her all his. To say words that should never be said. 

Ahh... it had been a very long time. 

Now the day bleeds Into nightfall And you're not here To get me through it all

It’s... my own fault. 

A fist slams into the grass below him. 

How dare I expect someone else to just feel the same... and yet... and yet... 

“I just wanted to have someone to... I just... I took it all for fucking granted!”

Running up to the railing between himself and the water below, Julius grabs on tightly, tears already running down his face. 

I let my guard down And then you pulled the rug I was getting kinda used to being someone you loved

“I should have said nothing. Allowed it to remain what it was... that was bliss... I just... I wanted...”

His body gives way, unable to stand anymore. 

Ascension. The process in which Servants in this Grail War could grow stronger, to the point at which they were more powerful then before. 

With many, it was changing them into a form beyond what was normal. 

With some, it was bringing them back to their purest form.

With others... it was wiping away the dirt and grime the world had marked their soul with, and finding what was beneath it all. 

The tattered coat slowly grew out once more, repairing and fixing until it returned to its former glory.

His features, older and weary, began to grow softer. His younger self’s face wasn’t exactly well looked after when it came to his skin, but it was younger, that much was for certain. 

Looking down at his limbs, Assassin pauses for a moment. 

He was... he had always been... 

“Julius Belkisk Harwey... I thought that if I ran from that name, the pain would be easier to bare. Foolish. It did nothing to help, merely bring more misery.”