#naajma

'Why don't you join me?' his voice remains firm, not too loud either. Diarmuid has been aware of the other's presence for a while now but waited to see if the other follows any given intentions. Seeking him? Searching for a great of peace? It feels as tho, these world is as restless with its nature as the last time he had called to it. Still sinful but surely more determined.

The suggestion he made did earn a bit baffled look from the vixen. Well, that was indeed oddly sentimental of him, not that she particularly minded, hence she thought of it rather dear in a way one would be fond of childlike joy. But year already? It felt too fast but maybe that was because both in work and private life both lived fast-paced lives. Still, she had to nudge his shoulder with her own. 

“You smooth talker....” snickering she had to shake her head genuienly liking the idea. He knew her too well by now didn't he? “If I were to say no you would give the puppy eyes, and I am weak for those “ she teased while reaching a hand to gently pinch his cheek. 

Don’t involve yourself, you don’t know this man. He could be trouble.

Salana’s features shifted into a grimace, she couldn’t just leave him like this. No matter how much sense Renata made, it went against her nature to just abandon someone in need. Vivid greens followed the trail of... was that oil coming from him? And there was so much of it...

See what I mean? He’s not even human. Hear those sirens? He’s fleeing.

‘You’re not human either,’ Salana bit back within her head, hoping the internal struggle with the demon wasn’t noticeable upon her features. “Hey look, you’re clearly not okay, I-,” she glanced over her shoulder as the sirens grew closer, the Danish accent strong as a bite to her lip was taken before turning her attention back to him. He was trying to keep her at a distance, he didn’t want her involved so that clearly meant he wasn’t that bad... right?

Wrong.

“Alright look, you’re running from them aren’t you?” A thumb signaled in the direction of the sirens as she leveled him with a firm, unwavering look. “Let me help you... I don’t know what’s going on but I wasn’t raised to just turn my back on someone-...”

Or something.

|| 篠 || :: most people tend to prefer their slumber to be long and undisturbed rest but for the BYAKKO, she actually didn’t seem if her time of rest would be cut short given that she knew who she was going to see when she opened her eyes. the PROTECTOR felt like she was living the dream in and out of itself — a kind of life that she never thought would be possible for her given her lifestyle. a kind of life that she thought she wasn’t ALLOWED to have after she failed to protect the one who was most important to her.

               yet — it seemed that fate had something else in store.

               would their first meet be classified as FATEFUL ENCOUNTER ? the thought put a smile on her face. maybe it could be called that, as she could’ve run into anyone in this city but it turned out to be him. her life from that very first day — how she had shown her POWER and her true identity to him in the battle seemed to open the gate for something more.

               fast-forward to present time where she could hear some ruffling of the sheet that marked it quite a RARE occurrence that usually, she would be the one who was awake before the two PRECIOUS SOULS ( or at least at the very same time. ) and as though they were sending a sort of telepathic communication for her to wake — the BYAKKO slowly found her mind resurfacing.

               eyes squinted momentarily at the light that streamed in, but the moment her consciousness was returned to her body, she could catch a quick GLANCE of the two most important people in her life stationed at each of her side, and before she could say anything, their MORNING GREET of a kiss to both sides of her cheeks already made her heart filled with warmth.

               golden-tinged silver orbs burned the sight of the two mischievous duo who were giving her a big, goofy grin that MIRRORED each other so much that she couldn’t decide if it was the smaller one mimicking her father or the other way around. how this simple gesture of a kiss to her cheek brought back a REMINDER that this, right here, was a family that she was given — a FAMILY she would give anything to protect. they were her whole world and she would toss herself into rings of FIRE in order to save them.

               there was nothing she wouldn’t do for them. they were her life and soul … there’s nothing in the world more important than them. she would give anything to keep them safe. her heart, her body, her every fiber of being. 

               and so — after leaving them with ANTICIPATION of her silence, her arms pulled them both towards her where she placed a tender kiss to valerie’s temple, lingering her lips there for a moment longer before turning to her BELOVED — her gaze softened slightly and she pressed a full kiss to his lips. a warm, affectionate kiss that spilled her feeling towards him, how lucky she was to have found him ( much to valerie’s slight protest that his kiss was longer than hers. )

               and she leaned back, the BRIGHTEST smile on her lips to the two who were the lights of her life.

                “ good morning ~ ”

                 i love you both … more than life itself. thank you … for making me feel alive again.

─「凛」─  it’s never meant to last ... master and servant relationship.

                that was the GOLDEN RULE that governed the very core of holy grail war. it was a temporary alliance, forged between a MAGUS and a spirit of the past --- summoned into the world of living once more in order to FULFILL the wish they harbored back when they were alive. to engage in A WAR between magic users and bringing VICTORY back to the person who summoned them. to attain the most valuable price of a device that could bring any wish into reality.

                past, present, future, the lines that divided them seemed to BLUR.

                it was a sense of familiarity that governed her, a sense of PULL she felt when she laid eyes upon him. the fluttering red cape he donned, bearing the very same color as her own choice. a COINCIDENCE she found rather funny at first glance. unbeknownst to her, it was a symbol of their FATE intertwined.

                a kind of FATE that would bring them back together.

                what kind of battle had he fought ? what kind of life had he lived when he was alive ? why was he wearing that distant expression like he had witnessed so many things that made him lose faith in humanity itself ?

                ... i want to save him ...

                IMPOSSIBLE. a soul of heroic spirit could not be saved --- they were long gone from the plane of existence, only brought back to become a PAWN to be used. they’re not meant to be saved ... but that didn’t stop her. everything he said ... every word he uttered ... every little details she had CAUGHT despite the wall he tried to put up --- the cage he built to lock himself away, discarding the key so long ago.

                and she rattled it --- that cage ... smaller hands, bruised and battered, the TEARS from that betrayal and the scars left upon her heart ... she wanted to free him of this CYCLE he had trapped himself in. let him be free ... let him be happy ... she knew she was POWERLESS to do more, she was far too inexperienced a magus to perform something that MAGNIFICENT but she had to try.

                over ... and over --- she would find him. she would SAVE him --- no matter what.

                “ ... ar ... cher ... ” the sound of his NAME ... no ... the title he had taken for himself but it became a name that was so familiar upon her tongue. every time she uttered it --- she felt like she could grasp him there ... to hold him there and prevent him from DISAPPEARING. a kind of fantasy ... a hopeful thought --- what accompanied that was, unknowing to her, a CHASTE kiss placed to her temple ... a lingering of warmth that resonated through her very being.

                how her HEART called for him ... only him.

                despite her mind still deep in slumber, hand instinctively reached out --- delicate digits grasped onto his CLOTHING, stubborn of a hold as though to express her unwillingness to LET GO. she was someone stubborn like that, after all. and it repeated inside her mind that she wanted him here ... she never wanted him to go.

                she never wanted to lose him ... so no matter how long ... she’s going to find him ... no matter how far he disappeared to.

                because ... she’s on his side. despite how tainted his hands are, despite the BLOOD upon his hands, despite everything ... she’s on his side.

                always ...

It was nothing, as he’d said. 

Always, always, always nothing. And while she didn’t necessarily mind that he’d refused to tell her much of what was going through his head ( he spoke only when he’d had something of importance to impart, and rarely beyond more then that ), she was vaguely starting to wonder why she’d still bothered. 

Why indeed. 

because

( because, because, because, because, because ) 

“Yes -- I’ll do better, I’m sorry.”

because. 

( she was still worried. )

“I  just - I hadn’t even realized how fast that spear was until it was too late. I’m surprised you were still left standing after that blow, really.” Female whispers all too softly beneath her breath, perhaps not even expecting him to respond. Eyes focused downwards as she’d finished up the last of the runes, only pulling back when the inscription was considered complete.

But there is a beat of hesitation - a glimmer of uncertainty as she stares. Her hands are stained the colors of red and gold, and she knew - she knew - that there was little chance that he would tell her much of anything ( at least to the degree of what she might’ve wanted to hear). 

Yet still, despite all that - she would ask. 

Was he really okay? 

“--- are you used to used to this type of pain, Archer?” She’d just had to know. 

After all, this entire time, she’d truly doubted if she’d ever even seen him flinch. 

She standed at the ready, back straight and tense as she held the small sword. It felt foreign in her grip; a weapon of death did not belong in tender hands such as hers but she wouldn’t reject  Flaire’s offer to TEACH her. Peach didn’t want the gift to go to waste and she certainly didn’t want to disrespect the other who had imparted it to her.

❛ I’m ready, Flaire. ❜ She sounded more confident than she actually was, knobby knees knocking together as she trembled. She would be unafraid, she would be prepared. Peach would be READY for when the enemy came to take her again.