VIY VIY VIY ⁽ ᵃᵖ ⁾

As a Counter Guardian, they are used to it, changes of environment without further warning aside from the job’s description: you’re to protect humanity from that which threatens its existence. That Ryouma had found himself, even after the events that transpired in the Imperial Capital, in the home of the Master they have come to meet and fight together with was an anomaly in itself, and since then he has thought - surely his job is not over. Many a thing have happened since then, and just after Rider has come to be acquainted with Chaldea’s most recent additions, his job (or what he thinks to be it) brought him elsewhere.

A new threat, he believes, and a peculiar one that has stripped him from the powers bestowed upon him by the Counter Force and his nature as a Heroic Spirit. And yet as he walks around, tries to make sense of the situation at hand, he is rightfully surprised (and quizzically confused) to see the Romanov Princess in such a place, knowledgeable of their existence and away from their (temporary as it had been) Master’s side.

Nonetheless, he smiles politely and gently, the mentioned spirit behind him looming almost threateningly over his shoulder (metaphorically speaking, this time, as she is forced to walk as she did many years ago).

“Czarina Anastasia. Indeed, it’s a shame to see you are here as well,” mostly because she shouldn’t, or so he thought, “but I hope you have been well.” It’s the least he could offer in this situation, yes. “This is a pretty tricky spot we’ve been put, isn’t it? Truth be told, I’m not much used to this kind of thing at all. Hard to think of what to do next, don’t you think?”

          To be addressed as ‘Czarina’ was unexpected, if not a little pleasing to the ear. She would keep that fact to herself, but she made no moves to correct the Rider ( though her small smile betrayed her quiet joy ). It certainly raised Sakamoto’s status in her eyes, though she ignored the stare from his companion. Being glowered at wasn’t new, and she could at least understand the feeling of being protective of the one you cared about. Viy was hissing in her mind, telling her to be cautious in its own tongue that she had learned to understand in death, but she saw no reason. They were both powerless. They were both Servants to the same Master. There was no threat.  

          “ If this place is anything like the other city that many of us were already trapped in before being so crassly dragged here, then I could offer some insight - but as of now, we have no way of telling what this place has in store for us. It is simply too soon. ” 

          That other city had been a pain too, but at least it had proper facilities, places she could go to distract herself from boredom. Her dress had already been ruined beyond belief while traversing the rubble and wreckage that this accursed city had to offer, and the only place that seemed to be somewhat functional was the home she had been placed in. Still, it wasn’t as if she needed to eat or sleep. That place had practically no worth to her. “ For now all we can do is wait. Master is here as well, so you could always see if he requires anything. Even here, we remain his Servants. I’m sure he is having a harder time than we are, given that he is simply human. Beyond that, there isn’t really... anything to do. ” 

     He sees a reply from her popping up on his phone, with no care to not leave her waiting, he  took his time, about ten or fifteen minutes to even open the message. Then, when he felt like it, he proceeded to tap on the phone only to find the unexpected. 

     Kyoya. 

     His eyes widened in astonishment, from their previous encounter he had learned Anastasia was a girl who didn’t bite her tongue. Her sarcasm, insults and passive-aggressive comments had become part of the routine involving her. Having the audacity to call him by that name was the more likely thing to happen, he should have known better.

From: 雲雀恭弥 To: ロマノヴァ アナスタシア [ txt ] Enjoy your mocking all you want.  [ txt ] You must look rather foolish laughing at your own words. [ txt ] Didn’t I tell you to look for me again? You still owe me something. [ txt ] Train those few cells you have left for the sake of your good memory.  [ txt ] Don’t let my expectations go to waste.

          Expectations ? Was he serious about that ? And despite proving himself an utter buffoon for lack of a better word, he still had the audacity to say that she was the one who had few brain cells out of the pair of them ? Really, if she knew any better she would block his number and never speak to him again. But, Anastasia was many things - and stubborn was one of them. She would not allow him to have the last word in. 

TO: Hibari Kyouya FROM: Anastasia Romanova 

   Truth be told, Aoba did not fully expect to receive an answer so quickly, nor an answer at all really. The subtle music note indicating a new text follows a blinking light at the top of the phone, a suspiciously matching teal color. Wait, who gave me this in the first place?

   He sits up and decides to face that question later. For now he focuses on the things she tells him, confirming the suspicions he had upon arrival. 

   from:  黒沼 青葉    to: anastasia romanova

   [SMS] Yes, I noticed.    [SMS] It’s strange. One natural disaster couldn’t have caused all this.

   He waits a few moments, looking out the window of his apartment onto the dark streets below. The eclipse had not yet cleared and the few scattered street lights did not illuminate anything. It was as if he were looking out into… nothingness.

   [SMS] Say, do you remember how you arrived?

TO: Kuronuma Aoba  FROM: Anastasia Romanova 

One couldn’t, but multiple could. Even if it seems ridiculous to think that so many would hit this place at once. But, if they were forcefully invoked by someone who wished to cause such destruction -  Well, that is just a theory.

           A theory that made more sense than the idea of disasters attacking this place one after the other without any prompting. She was not a scientist, but such events were what they said on the tin - ‘natural’. Destruction on this scale was nothing natural. A magus could have done something like this, but they would have had to be a very powerful one - or perhaps someone or something else entirely was operating behind the shadows. It wasn’t all that pleasant to imagine. 

     As much as she complained of his behavior it seemed like it wasn’t that much of a bothersome since she continued to answer him. If their were on opposite places, Hibari would have already started ignoring the other for the sake of not wasting his time in things that caused him displeasure.

From: 雲雀恭弥 To: ロマノヴァ アナスタシア [ txt ] A reply.  [ txt ] Which is what I got.

          Honestly, even Anastasia became more talkative over text despite disliking crowds - and yet, this wolf remained much the same. At least the move from one city to another hadn’t changed that. If he suddenly spoke to her with enthusiasm, it would cause some concern. Still, she couldn’t let the opportunity to mess with him pass her by. It was quite simply the perfect chance - especially when he couldn’t ‘bite her to death’ over the phone ( she still believed that to be the most ridiculous threat she had ever heard, mind you ). 

TO: Hibari Kyouya FROM: Anastasia Romanova

          Anastasia had been a rather new addition to the various Servants that worked under the Chaldea Master, being one who had joined them shortly after causing plenty of problems ( though this was apparently a common occurrence even before the Lostbelt issue had arisen ).  Her Master and the Servants who had been by his side throughout his countless journies spoke often of things she could not place, even with the Grail’s knowledge - perhaps that is why it was some comfort to know she was not alone in her fledgling status as a Servant, when more joined their ranks after her initial summoning. One such Servant was the Rider who had appeared before her, a man who more interestingly than himself was summoned alongside with a spirit clad in black that accompanied him wherever he went ( one who reminded her, ever so slightly, of her own relationship with Viy ). Seeing them here was not out of place, many Servants now inhabited the city, but she supposed greetings were in order. 

          It was the polite thing to do. 

     Ah. That’s right, he never told her his name, he wasn’t interested to and he just accepted her calling him “wolf” in Russian (He looked that up).

To: ロマノヴァ アナスタシア From: 雲雀恭弥

[ txt ] [ IMG ATTACHED ] 

          She knew this bird, didn’t she ? He was the sweet canary she had met in the other city, the canary who had been followed closely by - ah. Him. Of course, he had been pulled here too. The Caster would never escape his foul manners. Not even by means of text message could he manage any form of decorum. 

TO: Hibari Kyouya FROM: Anastasia Romanova

   @reoites

   It was mysterious for the only working electronic in Aoba’s presence to be something as simple as a cellphone. Not a single light bulb flickered on, nor did Aoba have the luxury of something as simple as a working refrigerator. Needless to say, he quickly became frustrated with this situation, and against his better self he eyes his contact list with intent.

   He hated this, speaking with and relying on people he did not know or care to know. But here, he had no one from his home, their names completely absent. So he picked a random one like he was playing a game, closing his eyes and holding buttons until eventually stopping on one Anastasia Romanova.

   from:  黒沼 青葉    to: anastasia romanova

   [SMS] Is all the power in this city off?    [SMS] Or is it just me?

          It seemed like messages from strangers was a common occurrence in this city. 

          She could understand the convenience of texting - you didn’t need to speak to someone face to face, it helped to relieve a lot of the anxieties that came with social interaction, anxities that she understood very well. But to text someone you don’t even know personally ? Perhaps she should just get used to it. It didn’t cause any harm. 

          This ‘Aoba’s’ question made her purse her lips though, and she moved her gaze from the phone’s dimly lit screen to the lonely streets she stood in. It was pretty dark. Any lack of power that had occurred previously had never bothered her ( she didn’t eat, she didn’t sleep - she didn’t need to ), but to others, to humans, it might be an issue. They used electricity to preserve food, to see in the dark, to do practically everything. 

To: Kuronuma Aoba From: Anastasia Romanova

ANASTASIA NIKOLAEVNA ROMANOVA | FATE / GRAND ORDER 

the caster servant of a crypter ( kadoc zemlupus ) who sacrificed herself for him when he was in danger - and has since been summoned by the master of chaldea.

the memories of her lostbelt are vague. she can remember those encountered during it, as well as her previous master kadoc, but it comes to her in fragments - like she is experiencing someone else’s memories rather than her own. 

her true name is anastasia nikolaevna romanova - the youngest princess of the romanova royal family & the daughter of the final sovereign of imperial russia

she was killed along with her family & servants at the age of seventeen.

it was when she died that she made a contract with viy - a familiar that watched over the romanova family who lacked the magecraft to utilize it in life. it was only in death that she reached the requirements to wield it.  

upon being summoned, she is brought with viy  ( he is channeled in the doll she always has on her person ) & viy is the source of most of her magic. 

when viy manifests, it looks like a creepy shadow that is wrapping itself around her. 

visual reference here for the optimal spook. 

all in all, she’s a pretty icy lady who doesn’t really feel comfortable interacting with other people ( out of fear of losing anyone else )  but can be won over with some effort. if gudao can do it, anyone can lbr.

she loves animals. let her pet your dog.