KING OF KINGS.

★ : marisa’s put on a good show of fretting, but so long as the skeleton is still there and she can still prove she’s been involved, then everything will work out somehow. even if the money is technically the top priority here, it’s not really all that important. more like a nice bonus to a hopefully interesting venture.

‘hopefully’ being the key word.

she’s mostly content to sit and listen as he blathers – some of what he says is interesting, but unfortunately of no use to her, and the rest filters through one ear and out the other. he has a nice voice, at least, and all she has to do to keep up her end of the talk is add a couple affirmatives and head shakes here and there. the main goal here is waiting, and quite frankly that’s her least favorite part of stake-out type deals like these.

when night falls, however, is when they hear the chittering rattle of bone. even the old guy falls silent for a moment. just a moment.

<<Ooh – you’re right.>>

<<Do ya think we should introduce ourselves or would that kinda be a lost cause here? Either way, I wanna see if he’s really just a friendly pile of bones or if there’s somethin’ else goin’ on.>>

It seems just like any other regular skeleton as the quest had described. Now that their skeletal friend was here, though, what were they supposed to do now? Ozymandias does not take long in deciding his next course of action. Not bothering to wait for whatever it is Marisa intends to try, he approaches the creature and stares it down all the while. It does not cower nor does it attempt to flee just keeps to where it is all while giving its bones a good rattle every so often. "Hm, I see." He doesn't see anything at all except the obvious, actually.

After looking it over he comes to the conclusion that there is nothing special about it. There are no hidden powers or tricks up its sleeve waiting to do away with them once they let their guard down. He can't help but feel a little disappointed because of that. "Completely harmless." It's no fun dealing with something so simple and so Ozymandias leans forward and peers into its eye sockets and there is no reaction.

“Really? How’d you prove it? Can I see?” 

“Do you guys think the hole has a bottom? Does anyone know?”

“I would say that you misunderstand somewhat, Emperor of the Sands. It is not that I would not welcome any sibling, were they to come before me and proclaim our bond. Nay, I would be the first to embrace them with all of my being. I would love them, as though they had stood beside me for all of my life!”

“But amongst that mirth, I would lament the fate of anyone who should carry our blood in their veins. And I would weep for the life that they should surely have endured. I could not in good conscience wish our father’s burden upon another — without the firmest assurance of their well-being — and so I am content to think of myself as alone. At least in that regard.”

"Hm, so I see. I misunderstood your words after all." Nevertheless, he still has much and more to say on the topic. "I will not pretend to be aware of what a member being of your bloodline might experience in their life. The hardships they--and you by extension--have faced are not known to me. But I would think if any of them were summoned into this life, would that not be proof enough that they persevered despite their struggles?"

“To those who also call themselves children of the divine, I wish to pose a question. Do you ever consider the possibility of siblings previously unknown to you? To me, it is a somewhat distressing thing to think about…”

“IN THIS MOMENT, WE ARE.“ The Rider-class teeming with kings was no secret in Chaldea, but they all kept to their own little enclaves. The formality of royalty prevailed even here, and he could read it clearly and let this topic be to focus on what the pharaoh approached him about. The worst plague of them all he thought to himself, but with who he spoke to this should never be voiced; boredom. “TO INQUIRE SUCH FROM ME, DID THE DULLNESS OF THIS PRISON CITY BEGIN TO WEAR THEE DOWN?” 

“HM. THE MOST INTERESTING I FOUND IS THAT WHICH THEY CALL ‘INTRASPACE’. THE FIRST EMPEROR INTRODUCED ME TO IT. IT IS IN NATURE SIMILAR TO CHALDEA’S SIMULATION. ALAS, I DO NOT THINK THEE ONE FOR THE LIBRARY- OR IS MINE ASSUMPTION WRONG?“

"Worn down? Never. A Pharaoh does not tire." He should know that very well, considering that both of them are kings, albeit Ozymandias considers himself to be on a much more elevated level. It is true though that he had approached the behemoth of a servant because of boredom, while most would run away the sight of him. "Your assumption would be wrong, Thunder Emperor. I have paid many visits to the libraries of this city, although they have advised against my presence as of late." In other words, he wasn't welcome in any of them anymore due to the loudness of his voice and overall distracting presence.

It would be far more serious, far more impressive, if Popcorn was out of her goofy, puppy stage. So, while she walks tall and proud with her rifle slung across her back, the dog bounces her way through the area, leash wound around Wolf’s wrist. Nevertheless, the noise and the thinly veiled sound of footsteps makes her pull the gun from her back and hold it close to herself, obviously not thrilled to be disturbed.

“The woods is free territory,” her tone is dry, voice unamused as she tilts her head to the other. There’s no deferrment, and a particular gleam in her eyes that registers as defiance and annoyance. “And is it really any of your business? Interrogating strangers in the woods isn’t a good way to make friends.” 

Really, she intended to camp for a day or two, and practice her target shooting. The days had been too long, and Wolf was terribly, terribly restless. Anything to clear the head was a welcome change. 

"Pointing your weapon at a stranger may not be in your best interests either. Lower it." Ozymandias does not falter even with the weapon pointed towards him. Really, he just looks annoyed more than anything at having it unnecessarily pointed toward his direction. If he had it his way, he'd be snatching that weapon right out of her hands and snapping in half but he'd rather not cause a scene or give her any reason to act rashly. He does, however, turn his gaze towards the dog at her side that, although small, looked very determined to protect its master.

♡ Despite always avoiding her in Chaldea, the proud pharaoh now struck up conversation with her. Not a particularly casual topic, but she didn’t really care either way. Instead she was intrigued by what drove him to approach her out of the blue. Only Senpai was allowed to think of her as a helpless kouhai and come save her in times of need. Both of which weren’t even the case!

“W-What makes you think I would go looking for Senpai? If anything, they disappeared in search of me!” Small pout tugging at her lips, she was obviously embarrassed by being figured out so easily – by an outsider as she would call him. “Is this where we both say our secret code to confirm each other’s identity? BB-chan’s code is ‘dpvpr tmhqr lzatb’ then!”

Her answer said it all. Of course, she had gone looking for their master, but to no avail. There was nothing left of her to find in this city and he would know because he had conducted his own search. Her reaction, however, does serve to amuse him if only slightly. "You say that you did not search but you do not deny it either. Interesting." Not that he cares much anyway about what she does.

There was confidence reflecting on those eyes, just as the gold against his tanned skin. It suited him. The pharaoh knew what he ignored. The familiarity, the certainty, probably an ally of a different incarnation, or another of the various graces Caster had managed to cultivate? 

“Those are intrepid words, only a madman or a King would dare to address me, I, who belongs to the heavens. Yet I can sense the Sun’s blessing in you. Who are you to speak to me in such a way?.” He retorted, eyes narrowed in a small smirk as he admired his own reflection in the golden pieces that adorned the other.

“You have earned the simple truth, and I expect the same from you. Five months indulging in the secrets of this city.”    

"A simple truth, is it? Very well, considering it an equal exchange." If that's what he wanted to call it, then fine. So long as he answered Ozymandias's questions then it did not matter what he called it. Though it really is a pity that the other does not remember him, as the Pharaoh thinks fondly of the brief moments they had gotten to speak before all of this. Such is the nature of this city and the way of servants, he supposes.

"I have been here far longer than you and as such, have come to know this city well." As for an exact estimated timeframe, he couldn't really give one. He had long since stopped counting how long it had been since his arrival. So, he shrugs his shoulders and continues speaking on, "Close to a year, perhaps. Time is something we servants do not care to keep track of as we are beyond its reach." Surely Gilgamesh could understand what he means.

“ …. “

What he’s saying doesn’t click immediately but in the end there aren’t many people Ogata knows that use grand names like that. So this… Her brother? Maybe. Ogata can’t remember if she said anything about him being in Spirale.

Still… Putting names to relations between people and himself isn’t something Ogata does often. You can’t say he’s thrown off by the question but he has to think for the answer a second. 

“ Hmm. Well,  if I had to put a word for it… “ he starts. 

“ …acquaintance? “ 

A word befitting most of the people he knows around here, now that he thinks about it. 

Acquaintance, he says. That was not the answer that the Pharaoh had been expecting. Yes, he hadn't made it a priority to look into Nitocris's various affairs and ongoings in this city--in fact, he had bothered to pry into her personal business at all--but to think that she had somehow acquired an acquaintance that he did not know about. He can't help but be surprised. "Oh? Nitocris has befriended someone and did not introduce them properly. How thoughtless of her."

"And you are certain that this relationship you share with her is that of an 'acquaintance'? Her scent lingers about you. Surely there must be more to the relationship." In truth, Ozymandias simply wants a better answer out of him. With such a plain response, he cannot hope to understand how exactly they had come to know one another.

★ : in truth, she’s only out here because she really wants to see the skeleton. the quest itself is an afterthought of an afterthought (her second thought having been the money) because of all the things she’s ever gotten to see, a moving skeleton is high on her priority list. whether or not it’ll actually be any trouble remains to be seen, but at least she’s managed to show up before nightfall.

also of some interest is who else managed to show up: the majestic kingly sort of guy who claimed to be immortal. or something. what’s unfortunate is that for all his talk, marisa doesn’t remember ever getting his name. it’s been a while, so it would feel silly just asking or letting on that she’s either forgotten or never learned it. hopefully he’ll just slip it into conversation somehow later on. hopefully. she does at least manage to wave at him before losing her train of thought.

<<Hey! And I guess I thought it’d be kinda neat, y’know? I’ve seen zombies and other weird stuff, but never just a skeleton that walked.>> a pause, as she considers. <<D’you think he can talk, too?>>

<<Hey, wait, what’re you gonna do to the skeleton?>> she frowns, even as she jogs to meet him. <<I gotta at least get a good look at him before you pull any funny business, okay? He might turn out good for studyin’, and since I got here first I get first look.>>

Of course, it turns out that she's simply here to see something strange. Ozymandias can't blame her. While a walking skeleton is definitely not among the things that would impress him, he can at least admit that to most humans, it would be quite the sight. "It would be a pity if he could not speak. He could not properly answer my questions." And would be of no further use, otherwise. Now that he thinks about it...that's a good point. When taking on this quest, he hadn't thought about the possibility of the skeleton not being able to talk. Hopefully, this wouldn't be a complete waste of his time.

"What do I plan to do with him?" Her expression says it all, that she expects him to do something awful. He can't help but laugh at the thought. While it's true that he hadn't come here with the purest of intentions, he wouldn't be doing any harm to the creature so long as it was cooperative. "Simply interrogate it and if the answers are not to my liking, we shall see what comes next." But, she does have a point and thankfully this time he's willing to concede. "Very well, I will allow you to do whatever it is that you want with him first. After you are done, though, he is mine to do as I please." He nods. He'll keep his word in waiting until she's done.

"Ho? If this is to be her answer...I will respond in kind." In the vast great space there had appeared a giant temple complex, born and brought into existence only to show the might of the great Pharaoh Ozymandias. By combining both ancient pyramids, mausoleums, and various other temples scattered across history that belonged to the long gone rulers of old it formed an ultimate weapon of sorts; a reality marble for none other than the man that stood at its very forefront. From the front doors poured various high magical creatures, bounding forth to take care of the imminent threat at hand. Among them were various sphinxes, large as the great one itself accompanied by stone lions that, for what they lacked in size, made up for in quantity. Calling them an army would have done them no justice; they were a legion at the Pharaoh's beck and call.

Not a single beast of the demon lord had managed to come close to the complex, being stopped by magical creatures that mercilessly tore them apart. But there was no end to them, they simply kept coming. Deciding that enough was enough and that he'd rather be rid of these vermin even if just for a moment, Ozymandias digs his staff into the ground before preparing himself. All creatures come to a complete standstill in their attacks, halting as they waited for his grand attack.

The sky above the area surrounding the great temple complex darkens to an almost pitch black. The vast whiteness still spreads, elsewhere but for this particular area does the sky rip apart and slowly, the tip of the Pharaoh's last resort attack finally pierces through the darkness in an almost blinding white light; to those looking at the scene they would see an upside-down pyramid descending from the skies. Ozymandias himself rising from the ground, floating upward until he's situated once more at a considerable height. A faint golden glow encompasses him and the pyramid in the sky fully breaks through.

"I shall give you a reward, lightless ones. Look on my works, ye Mighty, and bow down! My infinite brilliance. The sun descends here! "Ramesseum Tentyris"!

▊狐 “I only find fault with everything you do because EVERYTHING YOU DO IS FAULTY!” Ozymandias’ truest crime was his similarity in temperament with that Golden King. She’d had too many run-ins with that one across several summonings that had left a bad taste in her mouth. In a way this also made him like Nero, which also didn’t help things. “Are you saying you’d strike me down if you didn’t allow it? I’d like to see you try!”

Allowing herself to settle, she planted her parasol on the sand between them and tossed a bag that had been slung over her shoulder onto the ground. It had all the essentials. A towel for sunbathing, sunscreen… plus she was already in her swimsuit. “Now you did bring the things I asked you to, right? You’ll look like a fool if you’re just laying on the bare sand.”

"I asked a simple question. You were the one who jumped to conclusions." For the record, no, he had not thought of striking her. Their similarities and kinship aside, he really did enjoy her company more than most other servants. And sure, while she may very well be able to easily overcome him, that wouldn't be the case in due time. So, he lets her say whatever she wants in an attempt to appease her. "I would never lay a hand on my family." So long as they pleased him, in any case.

          “Rally the four kingdoms?”

          With an eyebrow raised, he wonders if he heard the voice correctly at first, but given the situation before them, he supposes it had made some sense. “That’s easier said than done! How can nations who have been feuding for years on end suddenly reconcile and fight alongside one another to defeat an enemy? Even in a case such as this where its a common enemy, the chances are still low! Sure, sure, the fact that lives might be at stake can cause a truce of sorts, but there’s no guarantee everyone will cooperate. Who knows? Someone might take advantage of the chaos to stab someone in the back.”

"Have you no faith in your own human race?" It's true, there were many things to be taken into consideration this time around. The fact that the kingdoms had been feuding, their unwillingness to work together despite a common enemy, along with the unfriendliness towards anyone who was foreign to their own land. Yes, these things kept people from working together. But even in the face of such an impossible situation, Ozymandias did not falter. In fact, he looks even more confident that in the end, it'll be possible.

When he arrives at the promised location in the Kingdom of Airaisal that he sees the somewhat familiar visage ( albeit with a more abnormal skin tone accompanied by vines replaced for hair ) standing in the very spot he'd been looking for. Perhaps this would turn out to be more interesting than he originally anticipated. With the sun halfway down and night right on the cusp of replacing it, they wouldn't have to wait long. 

"MARISA!" He calls, voice as loud as ever even though they're not so far away from each other. "So, you too, seek the skeleton! Hah, I see. We are the same, then. Though we may have different intentions for our bony companion."