once youโre stripped clean, whatโs at your core?
acerbic wit.
you're a mentor โ 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 โ 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.
tagged by: @semiramistress ty for the destruction
tagging: idk who hasn't done this, or is around, so tagging you ๐ซต
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As Shirou leaves for the kitchen, Semiramis remains still, using the moment of solitude to observe something intangible. Thereโs 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 โ 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 cabinโs Television device and DVD player to be truly inconspicuous. The selection of movies itself being present here is not surprising โa summer camp staple, reallyโ 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. โCrosses and Thorns,โ the title proclaims, โan empressโ love story in 3 acts. A trilogy by Shakespeare Productionsโ. 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 doveโs wing beat.
ย ย ย ย โ Amakusa Shirou. Did you know about these?ย โย ย 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.ย 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.ย
the presented discsโtheir style and decorum, easily noted as the works of Shakespeare, dastardly doneโcalls for trouble.ย some distant part of him coils up and bristles with the knowledge, mainlyย becauseย itโs a series production cropping up unexpectedly from that caster.
โย i can see why you would feel concerned about this, semiramisโโdo you think i am responsibleย ?ย ย โ ย ย he asks, setting the knife aside and wiping his hands on a rag.ย but, of course, semiramis need not answer.ย any suspicions would be well justified considering the not-so-coincidences playing by his hand.ย ย
well, except this one.
โย i had no idea such things existed, โ ย ย shirou admits truthfully.ย the first case is then lifted, scrutinized with an air of indifference, and he sobers into a smile at the sight of semiramisโ expression.ย a soft chuckle follows suit.ย ย โย still, aren't you in the least bit curiousย ?ย though, i suppose this story could be about any empress in love.ย why donโt we play one to find outย ?ย โ
A secret. โ 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.
ย ย ย ย โSo, you feel it, too. โย ย 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?
ย ย ย ย โ โฆhm? โ
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. Itโs a little different than it used to beย โย 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.
ย ย ย ย โ Very well. I shall permit you to prepare dinner โ a first measure to make up for this intrusion. โย It certainly beats getting roped into hunting whatever is out there in the woods in any case.
โย thank you. โย ย he appreciates the notion as her hand slips into his, his thumb folding gingerly over her fingers.ย semiramis is given a cursory glance, shirou wishing to press a kiss of reverence onto her knuckles.ย but that would likely send the empress scattering like a burst of dove wings.ย so he does not.
โ i will dutifully make dinner as penance, โย ย he says instead, leading her inside the cottage.ย the space is barebones in its variety, looking as if everything in it had been carved from the same lumber.ย but, it still managed to provide all basicย humanย necessitiesโโwhich only added to the camping experience.ย
amakusa beckons toward the plaided couch at the center.ย
โ please, make yourself comfortable while i prepare. โย ย but before taking his leave into the kitchen, shirou assumes the act of a waiter curtly bowing to his patron,ย โ โโone plate of curry, fit for a queen. โย ย though the faรงade quickly dissolves with a round of timid laughter, the gag a bit too cheesy.ย ย โ โฆ although i'm not very good compared to chaldea's cooks.ย so i do hope you can at least enjoy it. โ
and with that, shirou turns to shed most of his outer layers, rolls up his shirt sleeves to his elbows, and gets to work.
ย ย ย ย So much for the โfun, relaxing vacation in the great outdoorsโ. 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 whoโd also taken this chance for a trip were a different matter altogether. Renting a private cottage in the forest shouldโve made for a suitable refuge to escape prying eyes and, finally, enjoy some relaxation.
ย ย ย ย But it seems like no matter what the empress attempts, thereโs at least one individual whose prying eyes are utterly impossible to escape.
ย ย ย ย โ Amakusa Shirou.ย โ Nothing about this meeting seems โcoincidentalโ at all, and she sighs as she turns to face him. โ I clearly recall requesting a cabin without โcottage-matesโ, as you call it. Should I even ask what you are doing here? โ Itโs pointless, anyway, but another question requires answering much more urgently. โ And how long have you been watching?! โ
ย ย ย ย She hasnโt even done anything particularly interesting since her arrival, but that is entirely besides the point.
how long has he been watchingย ?ย how long indeed.ย the act had been done with practiced ease, furtively, a shadow to the empress.ย but if she learns about the circumstances wrapped in this so-called coincidence, it might ruin the entire evening.ย
after a pause, shirou raises a finger to his lips, laughs playfully for the second time, and offers an equally playful answer,ย โ thatย is ... a secret. โ
and it will remain that way until the unforeseeable future.ย
โ however, to answer your previous question, i'm doing nothing in particular โ nothing outside my duties as a servant, that is. โ ย heย temporarily shifts his attention away from semiramis and toward the dark crosshatch of the woods, thinking.ย but, of course, he is also here for a taste of summer vacation on this mysterious land.ย yet amakusa cannot shake the distant feeling of being watched.
โ ... there are rumors of unnatural dangers that occur at night.ย besides the monsters, i can sense another strange force dormant. โย ย the thought trails off, unfinished, before being tacked on with a quick afterthought.ย ย โ โโspeaking of, we shouldn't stay out here for too long. โ ย amakusa abruptly turns toward the cottage entrance and sweeps a hand forward in invitation to semiramis.ย along with it is a warm smile.
โ iย believe i saw enough ingredients in the fridge to make curry.ย the least i can do is prepare dinner โ won't you come insideย ? โ ย
as they say, there is a time and place for everything.ย and there is no better time than when the setting sun has been replaced with the reedy sounds of nighttime to make for a dramatic reveal.ย amakusa announces his presence and arrival by the opening screech of old hinges and the soft thud of his boot upon the porchโs wooden boards.
โย oh my ... how peculiar, โ ย ย he says at the familiar face, habitually brushing fingers over the fringe of his white hair.ย nothing about this is peculiar at all.ย semiramis being in this very specific cottage is all butย unknown.ย even she must know that much considering the curve of his mouth hides yet another secret โโ one heโd even argue as necessary.
โย haha.ย i realize that itโs a little too cliched to say this, but oh well, iโll say it anyway ... semiramis, what a strange coincidence. โ ย shirouโs eyes cinch as his smile broadens into something a little more apologetic.ย ย ย โย i take it you have rented this cottage, tooย ?ย i wonder, does that make us ... cottage-matesย ? โย ย //ย ย @semiramistressโโ
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ย ย 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.
ย ย ย โOh, Mr. Tokisada. Pleasure to meet you.โ it was a moment for scientist to connect the dots; to realize what lion-headed idiot buisness was with other.ย โOf course, I have no pleasure in hearing his unreasoable roars. I hope Edison isnโt making too much of problem? I would suffer if he destroy image of Chaldean scientist in your eyes.โ
โย no, not at all.ย there was simply a misunderstandingโโโ ย it wouldn't be fair to allow one scientist to ruin the excellent work of others.ย โย ย his smile is genuine and true to his word, there were no hard feelings towards the caster in question.ย however, he cannot deny a sense of unrest that began to take root whenever edison was near.ย ย
ย โย ย hm, now that begs to question ...ย ย have you finished any recent workย ?ย itโs unusual to see you outside of the laboratories.ย โย ย amakusa lifts an offering hand and waves it towards the heart of the cafeteria,ย ย โย as a matter of fact, would you like to join meย ?ย we can talk over tea.ย โ
โ Have I really taken to listening fully to reason though? thatโs the question you should be asking yourself. โ ย ย ย
โโโ Mood having swung into a lighter tone thereโs some pride in seeing a smile peek upon his expression. If heโd thought that sheโd 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 hadnโt even occurred that sheโd continued to hold onto his hand even after leaving the room. Tiny apology leaving her thereโs a nervous chuckle that follows not too soon after. Nervous moment of biting the inside of her cheek a bit thereโs a low sigh that comes & goes.
โ Personally an uncrowded place seems more fitting, we can get some sweets later unless you wanted some right now? โ ย ย ย
there is an unspoken appreciation that the awkward moment was not given much space to take shape between them.ย it wouldnโt benefit either to be caught fumbling for words or composure from prying eyes.ย he answered to her apologies with an exhale;ย a gentle crease formed between his brows as ruler separated their joined hands and slipped his own back at his side.ย
โย no, that's fine.ย don't worry about meโโโ i am keepingย youย company,ย ย โ ย he quickly reassured, turning his amber gaze upon ritsuka to study her.ย she was ever selfless, even in the face of a servant like him.ย had he dared, her tenacity would be questioned.ย but, he had no intention to participate in the discussion that would follow.ย instead, amakusa brushed at the fringe of his hair as he called upon his hunch ( revelation ).
โ ย in that case, shall we head to the break room ?ย ย i believe it should be empty now.ย โย ย there was something comical to consider chaldea paired with the word โ uncrowded โ; ย the two were like a mix of oil and water. ย incompatible.ย ย โย though,ย i did not think you would prefer a secluded area ... are you sure youโre holding up alright, masterย ? โย ย
โ indeed! it is so hard to be one of the smartest around, no? even master cannot trust fellows like us sometimes.ย โย and honestly, it was for the best ( cannot risk anything being set aflameย ). 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 )ย โ my, please tell me what ails you, amakusa-kun. now you have made me curious.ย โ
โย yes, i wholeheartedly agree.ย which is why i am seeking your assistance ...ย ย โย ย granted, the populace of chaldea has been unaccommodatingย ( within good reason ).ย his efforts often begot obliviousness or vague details that skirted around the topic to be questioned.ย amakusa dips his head to a side, sporting a carefree smile that accented his boyish features.ย perhaps, a like-minded scoundrel could guide another towards aย particularย goal,ย ย โย i understand that you can perceive the present through clairvoyance.ย then, how about itโโโ could you please tell me where the holy grails are being stored in chaldeaย ?ย ย my searches have been to no avail.ย โ
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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.ย โ Iโve already seen an age end in my lifetime, butย thisโฆthis is on a whole new other level. Iโd be lying if I say itโs isnโt a regrettable sight and that it didnโt make me feel something, but in the end itโs always comes down to one thing like it always had:ย I must keep moving forward and if that means wiping out the final remnants of humanity then so be it.ย ย โ
โย i see.ย โ ย the smile he wore became bitter.ย it was an expected answer for one versed in the methodology of war and strife;ย amakusa, unsurprisingly, finding his thoughts marching to a similar tune.ย ย โย it seems that we share the same rationality, and yet, i canโt help but feel a little conflicted.ย you see, a part of me still wishes to save the yagaย becauseย they are humanโโโย โย ย for despite their distasteful ways, they too, deserved love like any other.ย he steps forward, the crisp snow crunching beneath his boots amidst the howls of the wind.ย there was much to consider on the ragged fringe of this permafrost empire, but no time of which to dwell upon.ย ย โย well, no matter.ย we have one objective, shall we move onward ?ย there is a village just beyond this storm that might bring us answers.ย โย
christ on a bike. christ on a cracker. damn. goddamn. godsdamn. hell. holy shit. jesus. jesus christ. jesus h christ. jesus h. roosevelt christ. lord have mercy. jesus, mary and joseph. sweet jesus. )
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ผ๐
contractions or enunciation? straightforward or cryptic? ย jargon or toned? complexity or simplicity? finding the right word or using the first word that comes to mind? masculinity, neutrality, or femininity? ย formalities or abrasiveness? praise or equivocation? frankness or lies? excessive or minimal hand gestures? name-calling or magnanimity? ย friendly or blunt nicknames?ย
do people have a hard time hearing or understanding your muse? ย almost always ย / ย frequently ย / ย sometimes ย / ย rarely ย / ย never. ( perhaps his intentions, but otherwise he tries to be clear )
does your museโs point come across easily when they speak? ย almost always / ย frequently ย / ย sometimes ย / ย rarely ย / ย never. ย
would your muse initiate conversations? ย almost always ย / ย frequently ย / ย sometimes / ย rarely ย / ย never.
would your muse be the one to end conversations? ย almost always ย / frequently / ย sometimes / ย rarely ย / ย never.
would your muse use โwhomโ in a sentence? ย yes / ย no ย / ย only ironically.
your muse wants to make a counterpoint. what word do they use? ย but ย / ย though ย / ย although ย / ย however ย / ย perhaps ย / ย mayhaps. ย / ย uhm actually
how does your muse end conversations? ย walk away ย / ย ask if thatโs everything ย / say that thatโs everything ย / ย give a proper goodbye / ย tell their company theyโre done here ย / remain quiet / they donโt.
how does your muse address others? ย titles ย / ย first names / ย surnames ย / full names / ย nicknames.
what social class would others assume your muse belongs to, hearing them speak? ย upper ย / ย middle ย / lower
in what ways does the way your muse speak stand out to others? ย accent ย / vocabulary ย / ย tone ย / ย level ย / ย politeness ย / brusqueness ย / ย it doesnโt.
@fatedcoreโ ย said: ย โ Every show must come to an end. ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Itโs time to lower the curtain. โ
โย ย โโโhave you been consulting with shakespeare lately ?ย โย ย he tried to make light of her statement, but the words came out sharp and with a touch of strain.ย even the laughter that attempted to follow was held back.ย the wound on his side was becoming difficult to ignore and impossible to hide.ย ย โย ah ... i'm sorry.ย while that may be true, there is still time.ย โย ย
a cautious look is thrown over his shoulder, assuring their enemies remained at a safe distance.ย but the hungry howls that echoed proved that they were much closer than anticipated.ย with a tight smile, amakusa urged ritsuka forward,ย ย โย the curtain doesn't fall for you just yet.ย have faith, master, you carry the ultimate goal and i trust that you will see it through. now, you go on ahead ... itโs time that iโve properly dealt with these monsters, yes ?ย ย โ
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