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]

Ah. So something like that is possible.

[And Bedivere obviously liked them. Based on what he'd seen in those memories, Dazai could see why.

'They must've done something right in fixing things or else we wouldn't be talking here like this,' he would've liked to say, but those two were far off in the future and for all he knew, this present wasn't something that needed that kind of repair.]

They sound like good kids, taking on a heavy responsibility like that. Did they have anyone else helping them?

[1stknight]

Actually, yes. That young master had many servants, and several adults in the future to support them. They were just 'the last Master' of the future, and they had to handle the heavy lifting, so to speak.

[Interestingly, Bedivere did agree with Dazai. Those kids must have done something right, because otherwise Bedivere and Dazai would not be here talking.]

I do regret not being able to travel with them further, but I am glad I was able to help them in that one instance. And they helped me finish my quest too, so I will be forever thankful.

[neverwashere]

[Hol' up]

I'm glad they're not alone and that they were able to help you.

...though I have to ask - last Master? Did they win a final Grail War?

[1stknight]

Ah...not quite, no.

[Bedivere didn't know the full story, but he knew enough to give a kind of explanation. So he tried his best, hoping Dazai wouldn't get too lost.]

From what I heard, they were going to attempt to run one in a controlled environment, or something along those lines? And Ritsuka- that's the young master- they were one of the ones selected for the project. But something happened before the project even began, and only Ritsuka remained. But they had already been granted the ability to form pacts with servants, so they were able to form bonds with servants. And, er, they have enough mana to support several servants at once, I believe.

[neverwashere]

Wait wait wait, doesn't that mean they're super powerful?

[He was fully awake now, and cupped Bedivere's cheeks to look at him properly.]

And they don't look the the type to flaunt it?

How does that kind of person manage to get to that age without a massive ego?

[1stknight]

I don't know, but their parents did a wonderful job raising them.

[Really, Bedivere quite liked Ritsuka. He couldn't think of a better person to put the hope of humanity into. Though hopefully that youth could handle the stress of being humanity's last hope.]

[neverwashere]

[Dazai nodded - yes, if there was anyone worth entrusting the security of humanity to, it would be that sort of person.

Then he wondered: was there any way to see them even from the distance, just to see if this was all worth the hype? Something to think about.]

Well - that, and their own character. A parent's influence only goes so far, even if they're one of the adults supporting them in the future.

What about the girl wearing that strange armor? Is she a Master, too?

[1stknight]

Ah, no. She is a psuedo-Servant. Which is, essentially, a human who has gained the power of a Servant. In that girl's case, her power came from Galahad. She is that young Master's first Servant, and they are very close friends.

[neverwashere]

Huh. [And didn't Galahad's own legend tie into the Grail quest?] So does that mean that you were sort of reunited with your fellow knight? Or is it more of a bloodline inheritance that helped her become a vessel?

[1stknight]

In a way, I suppose we reunited. As far as I know it's not a bloodline thing, but I don't know all the details of Miss Mash's life, so it could be.

[He was smiling, but it was a touch sad.]

Galahad was watching everything that happened, but he didn't speak up at all. He only passed a message on through Mash once, and it was to berate Lancelot.

[Which, fair. But still.]

...that young man who lives next door, he is similar to her in a way, isn't he?

[he still remembered that dream with Atsushi as a tiger.]

[neverwashere]

[Dazai blinked - he hadn't expected Bedivere to pick that out from either his words or his dreams. Plus, that description was rather insightful. When Atsushi's Ability was spoken of, it was rare for others to consider just how linked Atsushi was to the Tiger.]

He doesn't like talking about the experience often, but yes. You could say that.

Atsushi-kun's gotten better at it, too. [Though he wasn't about to mention anything about Atsushi's insecurities and immense dislike of the Tiger. It was also in that vein he'd give something easily misinterpreted:] From what I understand, it used to be involuntary.

[Sounded better than 'he was locked up once a month as a kid and he didn't even realize why that was until last year, and then he was hunted for it.]

[1stknight]

[Dazai was very, very valid there. Telling Bedivere all of that would just make him fret over Atsushi. Which would have been hilarious, and probably the first time ever that Bedivere would have fretted over himself.

But even that little bit there was enough to make Bedivere worry, and he had to comment on it.]

It must be unpleasant, if he doesn't like talking about it.

[neverwashere]

Indeed.

[And he left it at that. While the transformations themselves didn't look like they brought Atsushi physical pain, it was always the possible fallout that got him.

Dazai let out a breath.]

Do you want to talk to him later? Not necessarily about this, of course, but I'm sure he'll be very curious to see who I've been bringing home with me lately.

[1stknight]

If my presence doesn't offend him.

[...well, he couldn't just leave it at that, even if his suspicions were a bit Awkward.]

...every time I have seen him, he has been staring at me. I think he's either suspicious of my true purpose here, or he's suspicious of my connection to you. There is not possibility of him also being a Master, correct?

[neverwashere]

If he is, we'd know by now. He often approaches me for advice.

[Or, alternatively, Atsushi would've tried to hide it, get caught because he was a terrible liar, and spill the beans.]

No, if he's suspicious of you, that would be because of me. I'm not the most forthright individual, so our proximity [read: dokis and sleepovers] will make him curious.

Believe me when I say that if he doesn't like you, you'll know. He's not someone who hides his dislike of a situation.

[1stknight]

Ah.

[Bedivere fell quiet for a moment, thinking over their past interactions. It was true that Atsushi had never said anything directly to him, but why had he stared like that? Was it because of some perceived notion about his and Dazai's relationship? With how much time they spent together, they could be mistaken for being involved with each other. Could that be bothering Atsushi?

(It bothered Bedivere. He didn't know the words to express it, but he wanted to be involved with Dazai without it being a mistake.)]

...

Do you suppose that he likes you?

[neverwashere]

Does he..?

[Absently, his fingers scraped the fabric of the blanket in random shapes.]

It's hard to say, really. Atsushi-kun flusters easily, and he's rather friendly and attentive to anyone in need of help.

[Dazai didn't think to look too closely into the way Atsushi blushed, paid attention to him, and sassed away the BS, because he'd long surmised that Atsushi was just like that: nice until someone really pushed it, very helpful, and uncomfortable with attention.

Also, if Atsushi did have feelings for him, well. Dazai was an oblivious idiot on occasion.]

[1stknight]

So I suppose he never said as much, then.

[Not that Bedivere could judge Atsushi for that. After all, Bedivere himself was not being honest about his feelings for Dazai. Jealousy never crossed his mind, though. Bedivere had a hard time accepting attachment to others, so if someone else liked Dazai, then that was good. Someone could love Dazai, maybe.

There was a small twinge in his heart, but it was from 'someday soon we will part ways', not the thought of someone else caring for Dazai.]

I suppose he will eventually come around, if that's the case. And if it's something else, perhaps he will speak up

[neverwashere]

[Wait, come around? Dazai raised an eyebrow.]

But you're thinking that's the case?

[That Atsushi liked him that way, or something along those lines.

Dazai didn't know what was more surprising - that conclusion, or that Bedivere arrived to that answer from only a handful of Atsushi sightings.]

[1stknight]

It could be. He does strike me as a flustered young man battling a crush.

[Bedivere may have known a thing or two about that.]

Though you may have to ask him yourself sometime, to know for certain.

[Silently, Bedivere wished for it to be a time after the Grail War. It was better for Dazai to love another human rather than a Servant, but getting distracted now would be disastrous.]

[neverwashere]

[This has to be the weirdest bed talk Dazai's had, where the guy he was interested in was actively encouraging him to ask the other person who might be romantically inclined. Well, it wasn't as if Dazai didn't suspect Bedivere's reasoning, and that put a little damper on his mood.

He poked Bedivere's cheek.]

For as long as the future is uncertain, I'll let sleeping cats lie unless he does anything about it.

[Why yes, he was a stellar role model for moving on.

Although that reminded him that work calls, and he sighed, burying his face on Bedivere's shoulder again.]

I somehow doubt we'll run into Archer again today, unless he's all healed up.

How does power for Servants scale, anyway? The longer you're around, the more you have? The specifics of their histories aside, of course.

[1stknight]

[That poke made Bedivere blink, and then he smiled.]

I suppose that's the best course, yes.

[But scaling powers, that would be hard to explain. Bedivere had to consider the best way to explain it, and he hesitated for a moment before answering Dazai.]

It's more like, they longer you're around, the more mana you use. Masters who can provide a lot of mana have no trouble with this. Masters with only a little mana will try to end the War more quickly, before they are unable to sustain a Servant.

For what it's worth, I will not drain you dry. Our bond would be severed before you died from mana loss. But it is something to consider, given that you are untrained in magecraft.

[neverwashere]

I know you won't.

[Drain him dry. If it didn't result in Bedivere regretting his un-life choices and being in whatever pain that other magus was in when he collapsed, Dazai would've considered it as a viable suicide method. Alas, it did.

It was strange, really. Three years ago, he didn't think anyone would cry if he died. Now there was Bedivere. Atsushi, too, because Atsushi cared about Dazai for some inexplicable reason even if romantic love wasn't part of the equation.

Dazai shouldn't be this discontent with the mention of his bond with Bedivere severing. It was the logical conclusion after all, whether they win or lose.

But as for why he asked that question -]

Then we can expect Archer's master to either have as little mana as I do if they summoned a more modern-looking servant, or that they have more in reserve if they summoned that guy with the intention of participating in the fight themselves.

[And just like that, Q remained the biggest threat. Steinbeck, he suspected, might be the latter. That was one guy who knew the ins and outs of his Ability and wasn't afraid of creatively applying it.]

It'll be favorable for us if it's the first one. Besides, it doesn't make sense to not summon a powerhouse if one could afford the mana drain.

[1stknight]

There must be something special about him that we haven't seen yet. If we can find out his identity, that will help us. But for now, it's best to just keep an eye out. It would be better if we didn't fight the Archer at all, honestly.

[Bedivere was at a disadvantage, and their short fight had showed that: Can't get close enough to stab if you're getting shot at.]

Regardless, we should make a move against Berserker today. We want to catch them unaware, and we will need time to rest after. This fight isn't going to be an easy one.

[Bedivere was talking as if they were going to succeed, though. That was probably a good sign.]

[neverwashere]

I agree.

[To both. And that optimism. Hopefully.

With a sigh, Dazai nuzzled Bedivere's neck before rolling out of bed - time for a shower.]

We can stop by the Agency to check if there's anything new before heading out to the docks. Q has a pretty distinct appearance, and both the President and Kunikida-kun would also be wary of him wandering around unassisted.