PSL (closed)

[1stknight]

[Honestly, being summoned was quite the surprise to Bedivere. Being a saber, he knew he was at a disadvantage. After all, there were so many more sabers even just from the Round Table who were much more famous, so surely they would have been summoned over him. In fact, he was sure it had happened countless times before. That one master he had met, the one from Chaldea, they had spoken of singularities and grail wars to span several worlds and timelines. And with so many fine Sabers to choose from, he was sure that he hadn't ever been summoned before. The short time between the 'creation of his legend' and 'now' notwithstanding.

It made him feel a touch inadequate, if he was being truthful. After all, he was a simple knight. The master who had summoned him, he deserved better than someone like him. But if he was the one who was summoned, then he would fulfill his duty to this new master. Nothing would be done in half-steps, never again.

So as his form solidified in the summoning circle, Bedivere offered his new master a warm smile. Once again, his life was sworn to someone else's. Whatever his master wished for, Bedivere would help him achieve it.]

Saber, Bedivere. I am honored to be summoned by you. From now on, I shall be your Servant.

['I am honored to be summoned at all' was the truth, but he didn't speak that.

Then he paused, and he took a survey of the situation. The summoning circle was expertly made, but this man in front of him...well. He didn't look like a mage. He looked like a normal person. Perhaps it was a disguise? Or maybe there was more to this situation than he could see immediately. He would have to wait for his new master to respond in order to find out more.]

Comments

[neverwashere]

[His eyes widened when Bedivere just described them as a perfect fit, though he didn't turn around. Were they? And on what basis, if committing grave mistakes was a separate criteria?]

Of course. To err is to be human.

That said, you've more than met the qualities I prefer having in a collaborator.

[1stknight]

Likewise, you are easy to work with and are quite clever.

[He had many words he could use to describe their partnership, but keeping it simple and agreeable was probably for the best. He did lean his head back to rest it against Dazai's, though.]

I feel like, at the very least, I can trust you in this War. That you won't betray me or abandon me. That's important for us to work together as partners, isn't it?

[neverwashere]

...that's true enough.

[He couldn't remember now if his memories of Mori's involvement in Odasaku's death had spilled over. But even if they hadn't, Bedivere's words remained true. They both could do without backstabbing, and he shifted a little to press their backs closer.]

You're a weird one, you know. Not many would make that claim after knowing my history.

[He did vanish from the Mafia, after all, and he played along with Shibusawa's little ploy. Not the best track record.]

[1stknight]

I find no objection to being weird, Master. Your past informs you, but it does not define you.

[Though uh. Some of those more recent things are concerning, Dazai.]

I think my summoning was not on accident. The catalyst there, it could have summoned any member of the Round Table. But I was chosen to be your partner, over all of the other knights, all far more qualified to fight in a Grail War than me.

I have to believe that it has a purpose.

[neverwashere]

[The slight shift in topic was welcome. Or, at least, it sounded like a different tangent to him.]

Are you even sure it was reacting to me rather than the dead guy? I'm not disputing that you were the one summoned for a reason, but I also did arrive while his ritual was underway, and he had to be alive to finish speaking it.

[1stknight]

That could be, but I prefer to think that we were fated to meet regardless.

[Since he was already falling hard for Dazai, he wanted to think this was part of the universe's plans. It made it easier to accept.]

[neverwashere]

Oh?

[Prefer. That implied a measure of willingness. And Bedivere didn't seem like the type to act the opposite of what he truly felt.

Dazai tipped his head back, unknowingly mirroring Bedivere's earlier gesture.]

Flirting and all?

[1stknight]

Flirting and all.

[Even if the flirting left Bedivere flustered and stammering, it was still a key part of what made Dazai who he was. So, he could appreciate it.]

[neverwashere]

[They might be lying down, but Dazai swore he felt the world flip over and turn in on itself.

Cautiously, he looked over his shoulder. Of course, no amount of neck craning he'd do would let him glimpse at Bedivere's expression from that angle, but. He needed to know.]

Isn't that the kind of thing someone like you would, oh, reserve for a person you like, without the contractual obligation?

[Excuse him; for a smart guy, he could be pretty dense at times.]

[1stknight]

[Bedivere chuckled a low, warm chuckle. It was one that reverberated through his body, so Dazai might be able to feel it against his back.]

I think we passed the point of 'contractual obligation' already, Dazai.

[Apparently actually sleeping together was what loosened up Bedivere's reservations and made him more willing to consider that there might be more here than a master and a servant. Even if it was just for a little while, this was alright, wasn't it?]

[neverwashere]

[Because today was apparently one for acting like a high schooler with a crush, he wasn't able to stop his face from turning red, heart skipping a beat. That simple, huh.

It dawned on him that maybe Bedivere was the oblivious heartbreaker type. For Dazai, at least, because the only way Dazai could handle his attachment issues was by being ambivalent, and Bedivere, who clearly didn't have the same hangups, just steamrolled through that in less than a week.]

Well, then.

[But oh, Dazai could also be a fool. Which was why his response to his own warring feelings was to turn over and sling an arm around Bedivere's waist.]

Quite the shift in stance there.

[1stknight]

Ah? Is it too much?

[For a moment, Bedivere wondered if he was moving too quickly. Dazai had expressed an interest, and Bedivere was finally considering taking him up on that interest. But having gotten that reaction in return, Bedivere wondered if he had misjudged the situation.

If he could see Dazai's face, he would have known Dazai was lovestruck. But alas.]

I, ah, I do not wish to impose on you. I merely thought that we had an understanding.

[Bedivere also had a bat habit of not clearly stating what he meant, leaving room for misunderstandings.]

[neverwashere]

It's not so much an imposition as it is you going beyond the requirements of duty while skipping an entire lengthy courtship.

[Then he abruptly paused, replayed his own words in his head, and laughed, curling up on Bedivere's back - when all was said and done, this was a surprise, wasn't it?]

Serves me right, really, in letting my prediction get ahead of itself.

[1stknight]

Did you want to do a lengthy courtship?

[Lengthy was not possible, given that the grail war would last a couple weeks at most. But they could still do something.]

We, ah, we could take today as a 'rest day' and find something else to do. This city is large enough to have a plethora of activities we could participate in, yes?

[neverwashere]

Not really, but we could..?

[If he sounded confused, that's because he was. He never thought to imagine himself as the one being courted, but if there was anyone who was the perfect suitor, it was Bedivere.]

There are a lot of dating spots around, yeah, but you don't have to do this just because I mentioned it.

[1stknight]

It doesn't have to be a date, it can just be something fun to do.

[He said that, because it sounded like Dazai was objecting to the idea of a 'date'.]

A garden, a menagerie, something like that. Are any of those here in Yokohama?

[neverwashere]

[He wasn't objecting to it being a date, actually, and he glibly poked the first part of Bedivere he could reach - did he hit the chin or the cheek?]

If that's your way of taking out all the stuffy tedium that old school courtships are reputed to have, sure.

There are a lot of gardens and natural parks in the area - here.

[He blindly reached behind him for his phone, pulled up his browser, and typed in parks in Yokohama. Slipping his arm back around Bedivere's waist seemed like the most natural thing to do once he passed the phone.]

Take your pick?

[1stknight]

[That was his cheek! And the poke made Bedivere chuckle.]

Modern times require modern courtships, no?

[He took the phone from Dazai and, after struggling for a moment to figure out how to use it one-handed, started scrolling through the park names. Most of them sounded interesting, and he did like the pictures of them all. But one name in particular caught his attention.]

Yokohama Municipal Zoo?

omg

[neverwashere]

[He couldn't help but snicker at that reply, muffling the sound on the back of his other hand.]

Of course. With all the sights and sounds that might entail.

I haven't been to the zoo myself, so it'll be a first for the both of us.

[That was to say, he was neutral about zoos until Mori ruined it by planning an outing with both Q and Elise. Dazai had pawned off babysitting duty to Chuuya, who sensibly suggested another location. Because Q was the type of kid who'd get into all the pens.

Needless to say, Q never did get the chance to go to the zoo once he was sealed away.]

[1stknight]

Let's go there, then.

[He had to pause, though, because he realized something important. And he had to give a sheepish smile.]

Ah...but maybe after the sun is up.

[Though he doubted they would be able to sleep for another hour or two, only to wake up again. Maybe he should make breakfast? There was a lot they could do in the pre-dawn hours.]

[neverwashere]

[If Bedivere had been thinking about going to the zoo right away, as his words implied, well. That was rather adorable.

Dazai closed his eyes.]

Rest up, then. Gonna take the whole day for us to go around the zoo.

[His grip on the front of Bedivere's yukata held a simpler answer: he didn't want to let go just yet, as insurance that this wasn't just some post-sex wishful dream.

When dawn came, he had dozed off to a light sleep.]

[1stknight]

[He might have been, up until he remembered things like 'sunrise' and 'operating hours.'

Bedivere didn't fall asleep, not even to the 'light half-sleep' that Servants did. He just laid there for a while, listening to the sounds of Dazai's breaths and unpacking the memories he had seen.

Having Dazai's arm around his waist certainly made it easier to stay in bed, too.

When they awoke, Bedivere had an idea to do his hair up in such a way that it could be tucked up into a hat. His long hair was becoming distinctive, and disguising it while dressed as a civilian was probably the best idea.

Also, he looked cute in the straw hat he had gotten somehow.]

I think I should be ready to go now.

[neverwashere]

[The way Dazai's mug missed his mouth and headed for his cheek, resulting in a yelp and a change of shirt, more or less summarized what he thought when he saw Bedivere in the straw hat.]

You'd make a killing if you ended up with a modeling gig.

[Because yeah while that took care of the long hair, that didn't change how attractive Bedivere was - talk about eye catching!

Not that Dazai would dissuade him, and he'd also taken the effort to wear something different today: a loose linen shirt over dark slacks that would've shown off his clavicle were it not for the bandages.]

Shall we?

[1stknight]

Ehh? But isn't modeling for women? I may have had to wear a dress before, but I don't think I look particularly good in one.

[Bedivere, casually admitting to having cross-dressed in the past. Though he didn't count it as cross-dressing, for Reasons. Reasons he would explain if Dazai asked about it.

Bedivere still had on a button-up shirt and pants, but he had traded them out for something lighter in color, to match the straw hat. Now he looked like someone ready to hit the beach but not go swimming.

At that last question, he nodded to Dazai. Time to go!]

[neverwashere]

I beg to differ. Besides, modelling is for both men and women - look no further than the large signs they like putting over buildings these days.

[Dazai had eyes and a healthy appreciation for beauty. The fact that he could easily imagine Bedivere in a dress spoke for itself, and once he deposited his now empty coffee mug in the kitchen sink, he poked his head out of the door to check if the coast was clear. If it was, time to head out!

Also, you bet he was going to ask.]

So why were you in a dress, again?