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Entry tags:
Master's and Servant's first outpost journey
Who: Gilgamesh and Hakuno
When: back-dated for this event, so probably around 17th or 18th of Feoveuer
Where: in the Wilde
What: Master and Servant trying to solve the leyline issue
Warnings: Probably not a lot? Stressful situations, maybe? IDK. POSSIBLE SHENANIGAN-LADEN ATTEMPTS TO IMPROVE A PROBLEM...
[ ostensibly, the Wilde has very little in common with the terrain they traversed in the Moon Cell.
one is comprised of forests and the genuine substances thereof; the other is (or was?) a virtual reality of spiritron particles and ruthless imaginary numbers, of pixellated school buildings and cherry trees. the only obvious similarity is the state of decay and peril: rot as sickly-sweet as Meltlillith's honey. Hakuno, who has lived on the edge of danger for all of her brief existence, is a natural transplant for the change in scenery. one might even say the current landscape, dead and ghostly though it is, is an improvement over floating in an isolated pseudo-paradise that is enclosed away from space and time and change forever. and better, perhaps, than a never-ending tournament of death.
but this is certainly not a desirable landscape. at least adventure is a promise here, but to see the land in such an aggrieved state does not quite ignite the spark of excitement that should come with travel in new and unknown lands. ]
To hear no birds, nor even the cries of beasts... [ well, Gilgamesh will just be musing aloud to Hakuno as they survey the Silent Forest, some paces away from the remainder of the group, but not so far that there is any genuine risk of separation this time. ] It is as though I were in Kur yet again, or as though Kur had begun to overflow into my kingdom.
[ which, as legends went, did happen now and then. ]
At least it is said that those plants may curb a little of the infection. [ he has been collecting them in his rucksack and placing them in the group cart -- for science! and exploration. ] But best you be careful, Master. You are at risk for these infections, aren't you? Come next Moon, I had better not find you running about with those mongrel Shades.
[ and he still has no idea what is going to happen with her body, but hopefully the result will be better than... the Monsters he catches a glimpse of in the forest. he glances coolly at those white, misty, death-pale and unfortunate wraiths as they wander by, large and quiet and ambling amid the whispering tree leaves. ]
When: back-dated for this event, so probably around 17th or 18th of Feoveuer
Where: in the Wilde
What: Master and Servant trying to solve the leyline issue
Warnings: Probably not a lot? Stressful situations, maybe? IDK. POSSIBLE SHENANIGAN-LADEN ATTEMPTS TO IMPROVE A PROBLEM...
[ ostensibly, the Wilde has very little in common with the terrain they traversed in the Moon Cell.
one is comprised of forests and the genuine substances thereof; the other is (or was?) a virtual reality of spiritron particles and ruthless imaginary numbers, of pixellated school buildings and cherry trees. the only obvious similarity is the state of decay and peril: rot as sickly-sweet as Meltlillith's honey. Hakuno, who has lived on the edge of danger for all of her brief existence, is a natural transplant for the change in scenery. one might even say the current landscape, dead and ghostly though it is, is an improvement over floating in an isolated pseudo-paradise that is enclosed away from space and time and change forever. and better, perhaps, than a never-ending tournament of death.
but this is certainly not a desirable landscape. at least adventure is a promise here, but to see the land in such an aggrieved state does not quite ignite the spark of excitement that should come with travel in new and unknown lands. ]
To hear no birds, nor even the cries of beasts... [ well, Gilgamesh will just be musing aloud to Hakuno as they survey the Silent Forest, some paces away from the remainder of the group, but not so far that there is any genuine risk of separation this time. ] It is as though I were in Kur yet again, or as though Kur had begun to overflow into my kingdom.
[ which, as legends went, did happen now and then. ]
At least it is said that those plants may curb a little of the infection. [ he has been collecting them in his rucksack and placing them in the group cart -- for science! and exploration. ] But best you be careful, Master. You are at risk for these infections, aren't you? Come next Moon, I had better not find you running about with those mongrel Shades.
[ and he still has no idea what is going to happen with her body, but hopefully the result will be better than... the Monsters he catches a glimpse of in the forest. he glances coolly at those white, misty, death-pale and unfortunate wraiths as they wander by, large and quiet and ambling amid the whispering tree leaves. ]
no subject
She stands at his side, regardless, solemn and bright-eyed still.]
I know, Gilgamesh. I think I've heard it at least once or twice a day since I got here and started telling people I was Fae.
[And after the first full moon, there was no hiding it even if she wanted to.]
I'm being careful, I promise. But you have to be too, you know? It'd be pretty cruel to go and unleash the King of Shades on this place, after all.
no subject
You have not been speaking with a certain golden-haired maiden, have you?
[ because just where is this Word of Caution coming from, hm? his Getting Romantically Lost In The Forest and Campside Date was a complete and utter secret. and there is absolutely nothing to see here. ]
Nevertheless, what kind of being do you think I am that you should worry over me? Do you doubt my experience, Hakuno? [ look at his face. is this not the epitome of responsible humility and wisdom? ] We were after all the victors of that Grail War.
... ah. [ he shakes his head... and briefly changes the topic. ] As for this place, I have decided I shall look for a means of repairing it. My friend loves nature and green life and cannot possibly stand to see it suffer so. Thus the plague which blights our land is also my enemy.
no subject
[About him, certainly, but not about that. Frankly, she just knows him well enough to inherently sense his questionable choices and ideas even without the Bond, whether she witnesses them or not.]
I think you're my partner. I know you're experienced, and I know Servant-bodied or not, you're vicious in a fight. But, this is a new world with plenty of new experiences skulking around the corner for us, too. Your strength just makes it all the more important that you never become a Shade, you know.
[She nods slowly.]
I can get behind that. ...I like this place. I'd like to see it flourish, while we're here.
no subject
[ such as their future husbands -- so in Saber's case, him.
though that Hakuno was a mystery about such things. never speaking of her own attractions, she must be an exceedingly picky woman. indeed, she has never even propositioned the King despite sharing baths with him and seeing his nude body on the regular. his flawless form should overwhelm any ordinary woman with arousal. he had been known to bring goddesses low merely from a single glance, so just how high were Hakuno's own standards despite her lowly peasant upbringing? strange.
still, with the kind of suitors she attracts, he thinks someday that, as his partner, he ought to arrange her eventual marriage so as to prevent further troubles. they would have to discuss this later.
Gilgamesh opts not to respond to the remainder of her words. just what can he promise her? he is not historically known to be the most cautious of Servants in any context, but even were he a great deal more so, the hostility of this world is quite amorphous. magic, Monsters, a spreading infection which must be pushed backwards through somewhat uncertain tools. just how cautious can one be when so much is so undetermined?
as they are speaking, however, he hears, behind them, others in the group talking about the possible existence of the leyline. ]
-- well, well.
[ look at this inevitable Hold My Beer face, ok. ]
no subject
[Life, liberty, the right to happiness, sacrifice, survival, the guilt that comes with either...
Truly, just girl things.
Oblivious to the plans percolating away better left untouched within him, she at least is relieved he doesn't outright oppose her concern and laugh it off. That, in and of itself means that he's at least not taking it lightly.]
...
[She sighs.]
Well, looks like there's some meaning to you being a Witch after all. I assume we're going?
no subject
and Hakuno, as well, if in a more platonic way.
#flawlesslogic ]
How fortunate! Hmph, of course, I, the King, must naturally assume control and take this situation into my own hands!
[ he reaches out, grabbing Hakuno by the arm. ]
Ugh, I was becoming exceedingly bored of listening to this dull prattling.
Now, an opportunity for action presents itself. Let us hastily rise to the moment and overcome adversity!
no subject
Yeah, that's about what I figured you'd say.
[She follows along easily, some of the knee-jerk apprehension fading as soon as his hand closes around her arm.]
Do you know what you're going to do to 'overcome' it, though?
no subject
yet there is really not much distance remaining to his voice as he answers -- ]
You can hear as well as I can, Hakuno.
[ meaning they are in the same position of listening for the solution: the push of magic into the blackened leyline, as soon as they find it. ]
We must necessarily root out the source, then I shall make use of my magic. It is only right and proper for me to assume control of this situation, is it not?
[ you know, anything to avoid admitting that this is actually a group effort. but he can at least be extremely assertive in stepping up.
Gil V. Self-Preservation: let it begin. ]
no subject
[She sighs again. It's as much exasperation as it is relief; she knows he'll want to view himself as set aside from the ongoing efforts, but he won't be dragging them off alone to confront the worst spot of corruption one-on-one. Love for dramatics and harsh struggles aside, he is always mindful of her own fragility—and she's willing to bet he's probably been keeping a particularly stern eye running over her for any hint of infection, too.
She dreads the day it catches her, one way or another, because she already knows in her bones he will be insufferable over it.]
Well, let's find ourselves a magic vein, I guess. Lead on, Witch-King.
no subject
must this former Master (now Bond partner) of his always insist on bringing up his classification within Aefenglom? for a Servant to be involuntarily placed within a class to which they are not suited is a nuisance, but there is also an implicit degradation to being allotted a role that essentially belongs to another kind of Servant. that is especially so for Gilgamesh, who transcended Servant classes in the first place. perhaps Hakuno, who began from impoverished and lowly origins, does not feel the sting so acutely. what pride does she have to offend, after all?
but he does not comment upon the remark. there are matters to attend to, obviously. ]
Do not merely stand there uselessly, mongrel. [ though he will take her up on leading the two of them... don't mind if he does. ] Can you smell that poison?
If only it were in your power to purify this leyline... I should leave you to do so. The more I consider it, the more it seems a boring chore for a purposeful outcome. Such a task is generally more suited to a Master such as yourself. Leave the interesting and exciting spectacle to me.
Yet, I have no choice. I must once again be the hero demanded by the occasion.
no subject
A small part of her, buried deep, is itching to claw off the last vestiges of the Moon Cell—the classes, the expectations... were it not for the fact they're all she's ever known, she might have done so already. But there's too much meaning baked into it now. Even if the titles no longer apply to them, it doesn't mean they still aren't stained deep inside them, all the same.
Still, she craves something new. Something separate, from all of that; a new chapter in their story.
She follows, shaking her head.]
All I could do is maybe sponge up some of the sickness, now.
[She can smell it, sort of. Her whole body is on edge, vibrating with a feral recognition of intense danger.]
no subject
but. the dire circumstances here leave him with no choice other than to take matters more seriously. at least there is that. only, even taking-matters-more-seriously is somewhat compromised by raw energy and unyielding arrogance. those attitudinal issues persist even when he might believe himself to be apprehending a problem with all due care.
case in point, Gilgamesh was serious when he said that the trouble at hand seems to be something more suited to Hakuno. she is Boring Protagonist material and this is a boring protagonist solution, not a heroic exploit. he is supposed to be the typically useless but occasionally extremely competent wine-drinking hero sidekick who rescues her from the direst of perils. ]
And should the enemy come, shall you also blind yourself with your own cloud of glitter, mongrel? [ EXASPERATED GRUNT. ] How unfortunate, to have such a Master.
Still, however clumsily, you must now take up arms against this foe and prove yourself a man, Hakuno, for I have discovered the mysterious leyline we seek.
[ he gestures dramatically... you know, to where all the other Witches are standing around the blackened vein in question. ]
no subject
[He's got a point, really, and Hakuno would be lying if she said that she wasn't relieved that they would be doing this with other Witches—and, more to the point, other, stronger Monsters with more experience and advanced abilities. She's got a point herself, though.
A man who decided that stripping to overcome an enemy was a viable solution does not get to make fun of her for an unfortunate biological byproduct!]
...and I've said this before and I'll say it again, I'm sure: I'm not actually a man. Just...
[She sighs.]
Try not to get poisoned, I guess. I'll keep watch.
1/2
It is highly inappropriate for a King to kneel. [ ugh, he is so put out by this nonsense. what a ridiculous method of magic usage. ] Yet, if kneeling is the only way to defeat the adversity in this place, then as a hero, I shall have thrice the world's kneeling. None shall do so better than I. Simply move aside, mongrel.
[ we are adapting so well to this whole having limitations thing.
anyway, Gilgamesh settles, pressing his hands to the ground and looking up at her with that familiar, half-lidded indifferent expression. it is not the expression he had during their battles together -- the feral smile. no, it is more of the face he wore when he stood with his arms folded, listening to Hakuno prattle with the student council members. fighting obstacles may be his element... but something like this? still, he is not lacking in will-power. he pushes, as per that Witch's instructions. the pulse of light is... at least it is somewhat golden, appropriate to his nature.
this is absolutely not a problem. ]
You see, exhilarating, is it not, mongrel?
2/2
....
anyway, after ten minutes, he wants to die. ]
Ugh.
[ well, he looks pale. ]
Hm...ph. [ that is totally not sweat on his brow, either. ] It seems as though I underestimated the potency of this fatigue when combined with the deathly dullness of this act. Mongrel, do not make a boring face at this time. I must be awake.
[ remember, Monster Master, you are here to support him.
that sweat rolls a little more heavily down the sharp curve of his cheek. his mouth is a hard line, a little strain appearing around his eyes. ]
There is no other recourse. You must entertain me, Hakuno.
no subject
[Her voice is dry, but not mocking. It is exciting, to see the native magic of this world at hand, and this close there's no way he can miss her bubbling curiosity and fascination as she watches over the process. It's nothing like his Noble Phantasm, of course, but she'd be shocked if anything really could, this early in their stay.
She watches over him carefully, eyes bright, as the toll steadily rolls over him.
Really, she knows what he's about to say even before he opens his mouth, but it still makes her pause, briefly.]
Oh, um...
[She takes a second, furiously leafing through possible anecdotes that suit his twisted and mocking sense of interest.]
I... got licked by a dragon, a week or two ago?