o' god ?

acerbic wit.

you're a mentor — an old scarred wolf, an injured soldier, a disgraced paladin. your teachings read as shamelessly pretentious, speaking in rhymes and biting down hard into anyone stupid enough to make the wrong move. this isn't your first life, nor your second, nor your sixth — you'll make the most of your time shackled to this world, no matter how many loops it takes to get it right. with every defeat, you reincarnate; a little smarter, a little quicker, crueler and nastier. will you choose to be brutal, equalizing, that final strike in the face of your enemies? will you go soft, become tender and domesticated? the choice is yours. it's not like i can stop you.

As Shirou leaves for the kitchen, Semiramis remains still, using the moment of solitude to observe something intangible. There’s a whisper of old familiarity, and she casts it aside like a lacerated glove, too ruined to serve its function still. This was then, and now is now. Whatever happens here belongs only to them — to her as is. A spectre she might be, but at least she inhabits the now, unlike the her that was. That should count for something.

It should, but as her narrowed eyes drink in the surroundings (surely, if there is one thing amiss, there must be more), her gaze catches on a cardboard box, far too inconspicuously placed near the cabin’s Television device and DVD player to be truly inconspicuous. The selection of movies itself being present here is not surprising —a summer camp staple, really— but she glimpses one cover adorned in black and red, sharp-edged golden lettering proclaiming a movie title that has no right existing.

Unobserved, there is no need to hide the spark of anger the cover ignites, and, skirt fluttering, she rushes to the box, picking up the incriminating movie only to find a sequel hidden behind the first DVD. “Crosses and Thorns,” the title proclaims, “an empress’ love story in 3 acts. A trilogy by Shakespeare Productions”. Trilogy?! Of course, the box contains the final part as well.

Semiramis gathers them all in her hands, not even bothering to school her expression into an impassive, unbothered smile. Only one question needs answering now, and she reaches the kitchen swifter than a dove’s wing beat.

        ‘ Amakusa Shirou. Did you know about these? ’  She drops the DVDs next to a pile of carrots.

the rhythmic chop of carrots stops short at the sudden arrangement of items that should not belong on a kitchen counter.  shirou eyes the stack of DVDs with a crinkling brow, but the question of what goes where and more soon becomes a secondary concern at hand. 

the presented discs—their style and decorum, easily noted as the works of Shakespeare, dastardly done—calls for trouble.  some distant part of him coils up and bristles with the knowledge, mainly because it’s a series production cropping up unexpectedly from that caster.

❝  i can see why you would feel concerned about this, semiramis——do you think i am responsible ?  ❞    he asks, setting the knife aside and wiping his hands on a rag.  but, of course, semiramis need not answer.  any suspicions would be well justified considering the not-so-coincidences playing by his hand.  

well, except this one.

A secret. — Of course. Semiramis resists the urge to roll her eyes at his non-answer, merely clicking her tongue as she allows her gaze to follow his to the darkened woods.

        ‘So, you feel it, too. ’  That strange force piqued her curiosity earlier and urged the empress outside, though she has no particular interest in conducting a proper investigation. The other Servants can gladly take care of that grunt work for all she cares. Only a great fool would willingly storm into the forest at night, mistakenly hoping for adventure and excitement. Unfortunately, there is a great fool right at her side. Is that his latest ploy to bother her then?

        ‘ …hm? ’

No, the plan is something else altogether. Last Semiramis checked, the fridge held no such ingredients, but they undoubtedly must be present now. Her gaze shifts to Shirou, taking in that all-too-familiar smile. It’s a little different than it used to be — back then, at that time only a part of her yet remembers. Perhaps it is a little more sincere now. Semiramis carefully schools her expression into a smile of her own before stepping closer, accepting the hand offered to her to follow him inside the cottage.

        ‘ Very well. I shall permit you to prepare dinner — a first measure to make up for this intrusion. ’  It certainly beats getting roped into hunting whatever is out there in the woods in any case.

❝  thank you. ❞    he appreciates the notion as her hand slips into his, his thumb folding gingerly over her fingers.  semiramis is given a cursory glance, shirou wishing to press a kiss of reverence onto her knuckles.  but that would likely send the empress scattering like a burst of dove wings.  so he does not.

❝ i will dutifully make dinner as penance, ❞    he says instead, leading her inside the cottage.  the space is barebones in its variety, looking as if everything in it had been carved from the same lumber.  but, it still managed to provide all basic human necessities——which only added to the camping experience. 

amakusa beckons toward the plaided couch at the center. 

❝ please, make yourself comfortable while i prepare. ❞   but before taking his leave into the kitchen, shirou assumes the act of a waiter curtly bowing to his patron,  ❝ ——one plate of curry, fit for a queen. ❞   though the façade quickly dissolves with a round of timid laughter, the gag a bit too cheesy.   ❝ … although i'm not very good compared to chaldea's cooks.  so i do hope you can at least enjoy it. ❞

        So much for the “fun, relaxing vacation in the great outdoors”. The leaflet conveniently skipped mentioning the cursed lands around here or the many creatures roaming the area, but those, Semiramis could still tolerate. However, the many Servants who’d also taken this chance for a trip were a different matter altogether. Renting a private cottage in the forest should’ve made for a suitable refuge to escape prying eyes and, finally, enjoy some relaxation.

        But it seems like no matter what the empress attempts, there’s at least one individual whose prying eyes are utterly impossible to escape.

        ‘ Amakusa Shirou. ’ Nothing about this meeting seems “coincidental” at all, and she sighs as she turns to face him. ‘ I clearly recall requesting a cabin without ‘cottage-mates’, as you call it. Should I even ask what you are doing here? ’ It’s pointless, anyway, but another question requires answering much more urgently. ‘ And how long have you been watching?! ’

        She hasn’t even done anything particularly interesting since her arrival, but that is entirely besides the point.

how long has he been watching ?  how long indeed.  the act had been done with practiced ease, furtively, a shadow to the empress.  but if she learns about the circumstances wrapped in this so-called coincidence, it might ruin the entire evening. 

after a pause, shirou raises a finger to his lips, laughs playfully for the second time, and offers an equally playful answer,  ❝ that is ... a secret. ❞

and it will remain that way until the unforeseeable future. 

❝ however, to answer your previous question, i'm doing nothing in particular — nothing outside my duties as a servant, that is. ❞   he temporarily shifts his attention away from semiramis and toward the dark crosshatch of the woods, thinking.  but, of course, he is also here for a taste of summer vacation on this mysterious land.  yet amakusa cannot shake the distant feeling of being watched.

❝ ... there are rumors of unnatural dangers that occur at night.  besides the monsters, i can sense another strange force dormant. ❞   the thought trails off, unfinished, before being tacked on with a quick afterthought.   ❝ ——speaking of, we shouldn't stay out here for too long. ❞   amakusa abruptly turns toward the cottage entrance and sweeps a hand forward in invitation to semiramis.  along with it is a warm smile.

❝  oh my ... how peculiar, ❞   he says at the familiar face, habitually brushing fingers over the fringe of his white hair.  nothing about this is peculiar at all.  semiramis being in this very specific cottage is all but unknown.  even she must know that much considering the curve of his mouth hides yet another secret —— one he’d even argue as necessary.

    Whenever no around Helena and Edison, Nikola Tesla was lonely type. Usually hidden deep inside his laboratory, rarely wandering over Chaldea, deep in his thoughts. This was the case now; only a voice brought his attention to real world once again and sapphire eyes located other.

    ‘Oh, Mr. Tokisada. Pleasure to meet you.’ it was a moment for scientist to connect the dots; to realize what lion-headed idiot buisness was with other. ‘Of course, I have no pleasure in hearing his unreasoable roars. I hope Edison isn’t making too much of problem? I would suffer if he destroy image of Chaldean scientist in your eyes.’

❝  no, not at all.  there was simply a misunderstanding———   it wouldn't be fair to allow one scientist to ruin the excellent work of others.  ❞   his smile is genuine and true to his word, there were no hard feelings towards the caster in question.  however, he cannot deny a sense of unrest that began to take root whenever edison was near.  

❛ Have I really taken to listening fully to reason though? that’s the question you should be asking yourself. ❜    

——— Mood having swung into a lighter tone there’s some pride in seeing a smile peek upon his expression. If he’d thought that she’d easily cave into piling some work on him before at least taking a breath away from it he was wrong. Maybe she was being a bit of a brat & faint guilt lingered on her mind. Still the unexpected outcome was welcomed even to her, finally out of that stuffy work-pile filled room of hers.

While the question was answered she did take to staring down at their hands. Mouth agape like a fish it hadn’t even occurred that she’d continued to hold onto his hand even after leaving the room. Tiny apology leaving her there’s a nervous chuckle that follows not too soon after. Nervous moment of biting the inside of her cheek a bit there’s a low sigh that comes & goes.

❛ Personally an uncrowded place seems more fitting, we can get some sweets later unless you wanted some right now? ❜    

there is an unspoken appreciation that the awkward moment was not given much space to take shape between them.  it wouldn’t benefit either to be caught fumbling for words or composure from prying eyes.  he answered to her apologies with an exhale;  a gentle crease formed between his brows as ruler separated their joined hands and slipped his own back at his side. 

❝  no, that's fine.  don't worry about me——— i am keeping you company,  ❞   he quickly reassured, turning his amber gaze upon ritsuka to study her.  she was ever selfless, even in the face of a servant like him.  had he dared, her tenacity would be questioned.  but, he had no intention to participate in the discussion that would follow.  instead, amakusa brushed at the fringe of his hair as he called upon his hunch ( revelation ).

“ indeed! it is so hard to be one of the smartest around, no? even master cannot trust fellows like us sometimes. “ and honestly, it was for the best ( cannot risk anything being set aflame ). there is a laugh then, expression softening for a second only when reminiscing the one who had a pact with them all, and his fox like expression comes back as fast as it had vanished. oh? that was quite the odd situation, someone renowned as a great leader asking for a piece of advice? from the one magus known for his dubious methods ( always with the best of intentions in mind, of course ) “ my, please tell me what ails you, amakusa-kun. now you have made me curious. “

NOTHING MORE THAN A GRIN casted to his direction once a smile bled through that somber, grave look he wore. Not that it bothered the Vice Commander, and not that he expected anything less from the Amakusa Shirou; seasoned by both his life alive and his Servanthood. His red eyes drifted and looked onwards to the silvery storm, eyes downcast thoughtfully absorbing the question in spite of that steel-like visage he wore flawlessly. “ I’ve already seen an age end in my lifetime, but this…this is on a whole new other level. I’d be lying if I say it’s isn’t a regrettable sight and that it didn’t make me feel something, but in the end it’s always comes down to one thing like it always had: I must keep moving forward and if that means wiping out the final remnants of humanity then so be it.  ”

# 𝐎𝐅 𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐊𝐄𝐍 𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐔𝐀𝐆𝐄𝐒:   1  /  2 /  3 + 𝐓𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐕𝐎𝐈𝐂𝐄:   high  /  average  /  deep 𝐀𝐂𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐓:   yes  /  no   𝐃𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐑:   confident  /  shy  /  approachable  /  hostile  /  other 𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄:   slumped  /  straight  /  stiff  /  relaxed  𝐇𝐀𝐁𝐈𝐓𝐒: head tilting  /  swaying  /  fidgeting  / stuttering  /  gesturing  /  arm crossing  / strokes chin /  er, um, or other interjections  /  plays with hair or clothing  /  hands at hips  /  inconsistent eye contact  /  maintains eye contact  /  frequent pausing  /  stands close / stands at distance

coffee or tea

early bird + night owl

chocolate + vanilla

spring + autumn

silver or gold

pop or alternative

freckles or dimples

snakes or sharks

mountains or fields

thunderstorm or lightning

egyptian or greek mythology

ivory or scarlet

flute or lyre

opal or diamond

butterflies or honeybees

macarons or eclairs

typewritten or handwritten

secret garden or secret library

rooftop or balcony

spicy or mild

opera or ballet

london or paris

vincent van gogh or claude monet

denim or leather

potions or spells

ocean or desert

mermaids or sirens

masquerade ball or cocktail party

        SENTENCE STARTERS | OCTOPATH TRAVELER ( NOT ACCEPTING )

@fatedcore​   said:  ❝ Every show must come to an end.                      It’s time to lower the curtain. ❞

❝  ———have you been consulting with shakespeare lately ? ❞   he tried to make light of her statement, but the words came out sharp and with a touch of strain.  even the laughter that attempted to follow was held back.  the wound on his side was becoming difficult to ignore and impossible to hide.   ❝  ah ... i'm sorry.  while that may be true, there is still time.  ❞   

❛ruler … ❜

please help me.