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]

[It was intuitive enough that Bedivere didn't suffer too many setbacks. Though being around technology before, albeit weird technology, helped.

Bedivere ended up sitting on a cushion (cross-legged once again) as he scanned the sites, looking for hints of what had been going on. And by the time Dazai got out of the shower, he would find Bedivere frowning down at the phone.]

There is a report of a dead goat found near a burned patch of land in the forest, close to where I was summoned. Any remnant of a summoning circle has probably been destroyed, but I would say that it is safe to assume that this is the fourth servant.

[neverwashere]

Fancy.

[See, this was why the news was convenient: they could both put the thing that happened towards the end of dinner behind them and not acknowledge it.]

What's next - cow? Lamb? Actually, is there a farm near that forest?

[1stknight]

Hopefully they don't use human sacrifices.

[Well. Beyond idiot mages who use their own blood and then die after.]

But if there is four now for sure, then the War could start in earnest any day now.

Are we going to investigate that area tomorrow? or deal with the Mafia?

[neverwashere]

I'd rather not stir the hornet's nest by being spotted on a second consecutive day, so I guess we're going on a nature trip.

That isn't just about the War. The Agency and the Mafia have butt heads a couple of times before, so their guys will always take note when one of our known members shows up in their territory.

[This much was a given, never mind that it didn't cover why Dazai, personally, disliked going back to those places any more than necessary.]

[1stknight]

The forest it is, then. Be sure to rest up tonight, it sounds like tomorrow will be a long day.

[Ah, there were the mother hen instincts again. If nothing else, Dazai would be well-fed and well-rested during Bedivere's time as Dazai's Servant.]

[neverwashere]

Sure mom. Whatever you say mom.

[He was about to go back to his room when, right, he did promise a handholding thing for Bedivere to recharge. Dazai wondered if his insomnia was going to kick in as it usually did - oh, hang on, he was going to take a shot of fridge-chilled shochu before tugging Bedivere's sleeve.]

C'mon. I'll show you where the spare futon is, and we can try this sleep battery thing.

Heck, maybe I should just hold a fork and stick it in a socket while I'm lying down. Can't leave my poor Saber without a voltage regulator and all.

[Aaaand here he was, running his mouth off again while he pointed out where his spare futon was folded in a sliding cabinet. While Bedivere took that out, Dazai tugged his already unrolled futon to the side to make space.]

[1stknight]

[Mom, at least, was better than 'daddy'.

But Bedivere was tugged along, and though he had reservations about everything because of how dinner had gone down, he still went with it. Bedivere was always the worst at voicing his concerns, especially around allies.]

If you did that, the experience would be quite electrifying.

[He didn't understand the second half, but he knew that the sockets had electricity in them at least.

But hey, futons! How long had it been since he slept on a real bed? Even if this wasn't quite the bed that Bedivere had used when alive, it still looked comfortable enough. Still, he had to frown as he made a comment.]

This seems impractical...bugs can climb on it easily.

[neverwashere]

I'm sure. Bet you can conduct a shocking conclusion for it with your nice shiny arm.

[Dazai, already seated, patted Bedivere's futon. It was nice and clean and properly dusted only because having dust allergies as his cause of death wasn't very elegant.]

Like how bugs can climb bed frames and hide in the space under it? [Dazai reclined on his own futon and propped his head up.] Or, wait, let me guess - your dear mage somehow created a spell that allowed you and your comrades to bring your beds during camping trips. Not that I blame you, since it sounds like an upgrade from a bedroll or a mat. Certainly better than sleeping on grass.

[1stknight]

You mean the arm I'll have to take off during your rest?

[Because once the futon was made, Bedivere would go about removing the arm. Which also meant removing the shirt Dazai had lent him, since that was in the way. Time to unbutton that shirt and pull it off.]

I have slept on the ground plenty, and I know of the plight of nighttime bug-visitors. I did not expect to have to repeat those experiences in a bed, however.

[neverwashere]

It comes off?

[The shirt came off. Hopefully Bedivere was distracted enough to not notice the wide-eyed look that overcame Dazai's features for a moment: those were nice abs.

Okay, sure, Bedivere had those because he used a sword, carried around a metal arm that weighed who-knows-how-much since its maker probably didn't know lightweight alloys existed, and confessed to having decent stamina. Seeing proof of it, however, was different.

He closed his mouth before he accidentally swallowed a fly. Or whatever insect Bedivere imagined would crawl into the futon.]

Glossing over the crawling up the bedposts part, are you? [Dazai clucked his tongue and mournfully shook his head] I assure you, you're better off with a mattress that doesn't get uneven lumps over time, never mind having to bother with metal springs.

[1stknight]

[Fortunately, the metal arm was attached to his upper-arm via several intricate clasps, so Bedivere was distracted in that moment. Dazai's thirst was safe. For now.

But once the arm was unhooked, Bedivere sat it down carefully on the ground near his futon. He would have preferred to put it on a table or shelf, but keeping it close in case of a sudden attack was important. Plus he would probably put it right back on in the morning, as it was a pain to move around without it. The few inches of natural arm-stub left behind were not adequate for helping with much of anything.

Then Bedivere moved to put the shirt back on, though it took a bit longer to do it one-handed. Getting the sleeves on was easy enough, but the buttons proved to be a challenge. Bedivere ended up finishing two of them and calling it a day.]

You're supposed to cover the bottom of the bedposts in oil, so the bugs cannot climb it.

[He glanced up to Dazai.]

Are you claiming that futons never get lumpy?

[neverwashere]

[Only two buttons. Meaning if Bedivere angled his torso just right, his shirt would part to reveal bare skin. Meaning that shirt would hike up at some point in the evening while he was asleep, and hopefully Sleeping Dazai wouldn't roll over at three in the morning to turn their wholesome handholding battery recharge into a snuggling and accidental molestation session.

Would bringing his bottle of sake into the room make these revelations and the rest of the evening better or worse?]

Sounds like a mess for couples with handcuffs.

[Honestly, the only reason Dazai got away with shit like this was because he knew how to power through awkward moments with charm.]

Futons are fine depending on what kind of stuffing you've used and how you maintain them. Before they even get lumpy, you can pound them to maintain their even-ness, like grinding rice to mochi.

[1stknight]

[Indeed, that would be a problem throughout the night. Because while Bedivere was a back-sleeper, that didn't mean he stayed still all night. By morning his shirt would start riding up, exposing at least the lower half of his chest.

But Dazai was in for some more fun before sleep happened, because Bedivere was about to hit him with a confused question.]

What do handcuffs have to do with sleeping in a bed?

[Bedivere, painfully vanilla.]

[1/2]

[neverwashere]

[He might've choked.

Oh god.]

[2/2]

[neverwashere]

Saber.

[Dazai solemnly clapped Bedivere's shoulder. The one with the arm still attached because he wasn't about to add more awkwardness into this hot mess of a conversation. How does one explain bondage to the paragon of romanticized chivalry?]

You know how some people fantasize about being willing hostages? This is a reverse dragon and princess situation, if you would. Or prince. With the aforementioned royal ardently begging the dragon to lock them up and have their wicked way with them in human form.

[There was a better way to explain this, except Dazai momentarily got stuck on the 'knight' part about Bedivere.]

[1stknight]

[The use of 'prince' there wasn't helping at all, because Bedivere immediately imagined Artoria as the one being held captive in the way Dazai was describing. And while Artoria wouldn't just become a 'damsel in distress'- Bedivere absolutely believes his king would fight being captured to the bitter end, regardless of if the context was sexy or not- somehow that mental image absolutely wrecked him.

Sorry Dazai, it's going to take a moment for his brain to reboot. Have some stunned silence until then.]

[neverwashere]

[Huh. Not the reaction he expected.

Dazai waved his hand across Bedivere's eyes, wondering where - oh. Of course. Because specifying a dragon's humanoid form probably wasn't enough.]

Have their wicked way with them in a very sexual manner. Voluntary, for both parties. No cannibalism involved whatsoever.

[Right, man-eating dragons were a European thing. He cleared his throat.]

The point is, some people like playing out such scenarios in bed. Doesn't have to be a dragon-and-human thing. You can go with something like, oh, criminal and nobility. Kinbaku practitioner and volunteer. Police interrogator and suspect. Etcetera, etcetera.

[1stknight]

I-I got what you meant the first time!

[Boy, did his voice just pitch upwards in tone. Sunned silence was quickly changing into mortification.]

Why would anyone want to- no, nevermind, I don't want to know.

[He rubbed at his face with his hand. Maybe if he rubbed at it enough, the heat on his cheeks would go away.]

[neverwashere]

[There we go. Not so innocent after all if Bedivere got it the first time.]

Oh, but you will. [Dazai gleefully cupped Bedivere's cheeks and squished them. Look, more hands to keep the heat in!] It's a sign of trust. Most people don't surrender and make themselves vulnerable for just anyone.

[1stknight]

Ah-

[You know the unfortunate part about being contracted to Dazai? If Dazai was touching him, he couldn't escape into spirit form to avoid conversations. That meant that all he could do was grow redder in the face as he tried to stammer through his sentence.]

D-dazai, you don't need to explain it-

[He did try to step backwards, though. Which meant he was about to trip over and fall backwards across the futons. The question was if Dazai would fall with him, or if he could let go and stay balanced.]

[neverwashere]

Eh!?

[He was already almost leaning on Bedivere before the slip happened, and they were too close for him to avoid the tangle of their feet.

Suffice to say, he was still winded when Bedivere cushioned his fall, and he couldn't help but star up at the man's face. Ending up half-sprawled on Bedivere's lap was... well.

He'd take it?]

[1stknight]

[Ah.

This was awkward.

With Dazai on top of him, Bedivere couldn't really move anywhere. All he could do was wait for Dazai to pick himself up. But despite how awkward the closeness was, the break in conversation from tripping did help interrupt Bedivere's embarrassment. Small victories, or something like that.

After a couple moments, Bedivere coughed awkwardly.]

We should go to bed, Dazai.

[And sleep and pretend that Bedivere definitely wasn't imagining his king handcuffed and begging to be touched.]

[neverwashere]

Right.

[Dazai cleared his throat and rolled off. A second later, it occurred to him that he'd been in close proximity to a nice patch of Bedivere's skin thanks to that loose shirt, and maybe he could smile away the flush on his cheeks.]

Of course.

[After turning off the lights, Dazai got under the covers of his own futon before holding his hand out for Bedivere to take. Actual sleep was going to take a while, and the saddest thing about this situation was that he couldn't even check his phone for how long he's pretended to be asleep.

Actually - would he be able to tell if Bedivere was sleeping? Dazai strained his ear to listen to the other's breathing pattern.]

[1stknight]

[Bedivere didn't sleep, strictly. Servants didn't need sleep, so he would never fall into anything identifiable as the deeper cycles of sleep. But eventually his breathing did even out, and Bedivere was in a state not unlike what a light sleeper might enter. It would have to be close enough, until Bedivere gained a human body again.

It was enough to dream, though. And those dreams held memories of the past.

A memory of a conversation long ago, between a knight and his king, about why the king had taken such a plain man as a knight. It was a conversation that showed just how much said king valued Bedivere, and how Bedivere's kind heart was such a valuable part of the Round Table. Embarrassing words to hear, but it was something Bedivere had needed. And beneath that respect and admiration for the king, something else started to grow too. Something Bedivere wouldn't be able to identify for a long, long time, but something that was there nonetheless.

It was something that became a bit more heated than it had ever been in life, as Bedivere remembered the weight of Dazai's body on top of his. But instead of Dazai's brown eyes peering down at him, twinkling with mischief as Bedivere found his hands to be restrained, it was a set of familiar blue eyes.

The dream wouldn't go further than that, as Dazai's would interrupt that particular chain of thought. But it was a dream that would linger on Bedivere's mind for several days after.]

[neverwashere]

[This was how Dazai fell asleep: looking up at the darkness of the ceiling as he listened to Bedivere's even breath, not quite sure what to feel with actually having to fall asleep with another person in the room.

Thing was that he could've gone on to tease Bedivere - did he know that some Japanese couples laid two futons next to each other like they were doing now?

Of course, the longer he stared up the ceiling, the more his thoughts slipped back to the events of the day and the memories certain conversations evoked. The following morning, Dazai would regret not going for that night cap if could've helped him fall asleep earlier. Maybe then he wouldn't have such a mood whiplash of a dream. Because those nice sunlit memories full of pure love, devotion, and maybe a little bit of naughtiness? They would soon devolve into the grim greys of Yokohama's criminal underworld, full of rain, grimy concrete, and dried blood.

Here was Dazai, six years younger and joyless, looking at a sedated Q being carted off to a van owned by the Mori Corporation. A few feet from him were a couple of guys in hazmat suits, cleaning up the evidence of a freak accident.

After checking how long they had before Q woke up - a couple of hours, said an older guy in the suit, deferential in spite of their age difference - Dazai nodded and gestured for him to move on ahead before fishing out his phone.

Doing this with one hand sucked. Stupid crutch. Stupid leg-breaking Chuuya.

Stupid boss that he now had to call before he had to escort Q back to the base. Because this new kid they picked up? His ability wasn't trainable with the timeframe Mori wanted.

Dazai woke up feeling rather shitty, a bleak mood for the bleak shadows of his room. Mori had come to the same conclusion that Dazai had kept to himself.

To efficiently cut through the Gordian knot that was a sane and responsible person's time table, all they had to do was to train Q to get other people to injure him. The shock of physical pain would spark that malleable child's emotions, which in turn would activate that child's hallucinogenic Ability.

Sometime after the incident, Dazai had wondered if inducing euphoria would also serve as another trigger. He never bothered finding out.]