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

[1stknight]

[What DID he want to do? Strictly speaking, they probably could get by without having sex. Holding hands for the night and some of the day after would get them back on track, and since the War hadn't started in earnest they could afford that time. But skipping it now would just push this roadblock until later, when they might not have the time to sort through feelings and awkwardness.

Besides, Dazai looked like he could use a distraction too.]

I would like to not think about anything for the night. I don't have any practical experience, but I've heard it is good for that?

[neverwashere]

[He inhaled, his hand missing the can.]

--- that's a yes?

[Dazai had to remember to not get ahead of himself, regardless of how personally fond he was of Bedivere.]

Then, after dinner, let's shower separately [or together, his mind supplied, he really wouldn't mind] and see how things go in bed. Under the right circumstances, you're right - it can be a good relaxant of distraction.

[Something dawned on him then. Was Bedivere even given The Talk?]

On the off-chance: does your knowledge of the modern era happen to include safe sex practices?

[1stknight]

It is a yes, Master.

[That one-track mind of Dazai's was endearing, in a way. It made the corner of Bedivere's mouth twitch up in amusement.]

Shower, then bed. Alright.

And don't worry, I know about safe sex. I will be sure to remove my arm before we do anything, so as to not risk hurting either of us with it.

[Yeah, he had no clue what safe sex was.]

[neverwashere]

Uh-huh. [Dazai wanted to think he was getting the hang of spotting the instances when Bedivere wanted to avoid embarrassing himself, but the guy was smooth if he wasn't caught off-guard and blushing.] That'd be nice.

[The rice had just finished cooking. Dazai will return to the table bearing the unplugged rice cooker, two bowls, an extra set of chopsticks for Bedivere.

It's a lazy dinner, all things considered.]

I know contraceptive herbs were used [obviously not applicable to their situation] but was there a medieval equivalent of a condom?

[1stknight]

[Bedivere's smoothness was usually him just being earnest, as he was not intentionally smooth at all. But earnest people had their own charm too, and that smile that had grown on his face was certainly a pretty one.

Bedivere stayed where he was against the wall, not wanting to move until he had to. But he did take the bowl of rice with a quiet 'thanks', and he started to nibble at it.]

What's a condom?

[neverwashere]

[Oh boy.

He bit the inside of his cheek.

By virtue of being the cute vanilla guy Dazai wanted to bang and generally have a fun time with before they parted ways, Bedivere was spared from troll-levels of teasing.

It was cutting back on the horrific descriptions that forced Dazai to really consider his words.

He can do this. Pretending that he was talking to Kyouka helped immensely.]

I'll show you one later. It's a rubber scabbard, if you will, that's very helpful in cutting back on unplanned pregnancies and venereal diseases.

[1stknight]

[Thank you for sparing the trolling, Dazai. The gentle way of explaining condoms certainly emboldened Bedivere to make an actually funny comment.]

Are you worried about an unplanned pregnancy, Master? Because if you are, then I must be the bearer of bad news there.

[Nom nom that rice was good. Watching Dazai's reaction was good too.]

[neverwashere]

[Bedivere carried the innocent look too well and it was beautiful.

Dazai's chest throat from keeping a laugh in, and his smile was suspiciously crooked.]

Thanks for asking, but I'm not. The only thing I'm carrying to term is my gestating anticipation.

[1stknight]

Ah? Has it been growing for that long?

[Bedivere should have known better, Dazai had been flirting with him for several days at that point.

His bowl of rice was mostly gone by then, And he chanced a look at Dazai's to make sure he was eating.]

[neverwashere]

[Dazai winked. Time to downplay the personal importance of that bit of info with more jokes.

(What he failed to take into account, perhaps, is Bedivere's sincerity, and the likelihood he'd look past the joke and into the meat of it.)]

Enough to kick and give back aches.

[Not to worry, he's been eating! Really. More crab than rice out of habit. Also noticing every time Bedivere looked at his bowl.]

Maybe swollen ankles.

How comfortable are you moving with only one arm?

[1stknight]

[Har de har, so funny Dazai.]

I will be fine. I was without an arm for many years, you know. I learned how to live just fine without one. I could even tie the strings for my cape one-handed.

[Since Dazai was actually eating though, Bedivere would finish his rice instead of insisting that Dazai eat it.]

[neverwashere]

Really?

[That was the inevitable outcome, sure, but it was no less impressive to hear. Maybe because Bedivere didn't sound bitter or haunted over the loss.]

I had my arm in a cast once. [Okay, maybe twice.] You'll have to show me how to do things that way, because there are only so many things I can grip with my knees to twist the caps off.

[1stknight]

It's more about relearning how to do things one-handed. Like so-

[He did have his metal arm on, but he still reached up to undo the ribbon holding one of his braids. Then, carefully, he retied it one-handed. It certainly took longer, but it was a practiced motion that he completed smoothly.]

[neverwashere]

[Without a doubt, Dazai looked intrigued. He had a professional curiosity when it came to improving the dexterity of his fingers, and a not-so-professional interest in seeing what else Bedivere can do with one hand.

Tiny steps first.

He held out a hand, lining it up to the tail end of that braid.]

May I?

[1stknight]

[Dazai would have to enjoy that wonderful treat another day, possibly once Bedivere's innocence had been ruined. Because Bedivere definitely wasn't thinking of the naughty things he could do one-handed. He barely knew what naughty things were.

But he did give Dazai a curious look, and he let Dazai take his braid.]

What are you going to do?

[neverwashere]

Try to do what you did.

[And notice how nice Bedivere's hair was to the touch.

But yes - he'd undo the ribbon and loop it around his fingers, trying to replicate what Bedivere did earlier. It took a few tries, and the clumsy knot he managed wasn't even a bow.]

[1stknight]

[Bedivere's hair was quite nice indeed. Very soft and silky. Dazai would have to take the braids out entirely to properly enjoy it though.

But Bedivere was patient, and when Dazai had managed to tie the ribbon, he smiled warmly.]

You learn quickly.

[neverwashere]

It's still imperfect.

[Bedivere's compliment takes out even the bite in his words, though, and he gives it another go. The tip of his tongue pokes out of the corner of his mouth as he concentrates, and he exhales when he manages to tie the ribbon again after three more tries.

The knot looks even worse compared to his first attempt.

He wiggled his fingers to stretch them.]

This is the kind of exercise designed to give one hand cramps. It's worse than lock picking.

[1stknight]

[Oh no, the way Dazai's face screwed up in concentration there was absolutely adorable. That tongue was what did it, really. And it took him a moment to realize he was being spoken to, and thus his response was slightly delayed.]

Ah- it certainly does hurt, at first. But as with anything, it gets easier as you get used to it.

[Something something building up muscles.]

It's even harder if you have to braid it, too. Want to try that?

[neverwashere]

Sure.

[He sounded positively gleeful, too, as he undid both the bow and the braid, a slight tremble running through his fingers as he carded through Bedivere's long hair. Dazai didn't even notice the quiet 'wow' that left him.]

How did you even take care of this on the road?

[Step one: slot strands of hair between his fingers.

Dazai puffed his cheek.

How was his thumb supposed to work it out this time?]

[1stknight]

Very carefully, and with repeated brushing and combing.

[Indeed, Bedivere's hair revealed just how much care he put into it. While the hair was still a bit wavy from being in a braid, it was silky smooth and free of tangles. That may have been the Servant magic though, as Bedivere had definitely fought twice that day and probably would have had messy hair if it followed real life rules.

And it felt surprisingly nice, to have someone else toying with his hair. He wondered if Dazai would actually brush it, if given the chance.]

Though I have to admit, prior to gaining my metal arm, I didn't braid my hair so much. That was reserved for special occasions. Usually I just tied it up in two bunches.

[neverwashere]

[Look, if Servant magic meant that Dazai had the privilege of hand-combing Bedivere's wonderful hair without worrying about tangles, he was all for it. And yes, he'd brush it, as soon as he could slip in that suggestion without being too obvious.]

What, like pigtails?

[He also sucked at this one-handed braiding thing, by the way. Odasaku probably would've gotten it in one go.]

[1stknight]

Yes, like pigtails.

[Bedivere could see Dazai's attempts though, and he let out a huff of a laugh. Dazai's braiding skills left much to be desired, but the hand-combing felt nice. So nice, in fact, that Dazai wouldn't have to work in a suggestion for combing his hair properly.]

Would you like to comb it? After I shower, I mean.

[Why was he offering that? He didn't know, his mouth was speaking faster than his mind could think. Hopefully Dazai didn't notice the faint blush on his face.]

[neverwashere]

I hope you don't mind a temporary callback, then.

[Dazai also chuckled as he simply tied Bedivere's hair instead. Not being good at something was kind of refreshing, for someone who usually cycled through hobbies quickly.

And oh, that suggestion. He perked up and tried to hide his interest a second too late, moreso when he noticed that nice flush spreading on Bedivere's cheeks.]

Sure! I promise my combing technique's far better than my braiding skills.

[1stknight]

I'm sure I will look beautiful in it.

[His cheeky response, meant to encourage Dazai's attempts at doing hair. Everyone had to start off as a novice, and Bedivere wouldn't give Dazai grief over it. Though he did have to bite down on his lip when it was done to keep from looking too amused.]

You should shower first, Master. That way you can be dried and dressed by the time I am done.

[And also because he wanted Dazai to go first out of politeness. Masters before Servants, who didn't even really need to bathe, but Bedivere would indulge himself that day.]