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]

[Dazai whistled.]

I don't suppose that applies to our ayakashi? They're well-known, and their presence in pop culture's too widespread.

[Also - here, a movie trailer. Plus a couple of additional clips if Bedivere was interested in seeing more.]

[1stknight]

[For someone who was not familiar with motion caption animation, that movie seemed off a bit. And he frowned as he pressed his face closer to the phone, as if it would make it easier to see.]

Why does everyone look so strange? It's like...they're painted, but they look real too? It's a little unsettling to see.

And I don't know what an ayakashi is, but I would presume that there is some truth to the stories.

[neverwashere]

[Biting the inside of his cheek was now necessary, because that was cute.]

They're computer generated images - hmm. It's like having a picture that gives the characters volume by wrapping their images around a wire frame, except it's all digital. Here - [he held out his hand] I'll look for a different film.

Ayakashi are ghosts, demons, spirits, that sort of thing.

Knowing that they're real to some degree lessens the appeal of watching horror movies.

[1stknight]

Alright.

[He didn't know why Dazai was offering out his hand, but he just went with it and held Dazai's hand. Even if it meant losing control of his metal arm temporarily, he did like holding hands with Dazai. That warm feeling in his chest was coming back.]

Why? Does it seem less scary if you know they're real?

[neverwashere]

[So like an idiot who was used to borrowing another person's gadgets - anything from a smartphone to a gun - he'd run his mouth and automatically extended his palm, completely forgetting the phone in his other hand.

Welp too late to take that back now, and the surprised flush on his face was obvious before he ducked his head to type one-handed on his phone. Tellingly, Dazai had yet to let go of Bedivere's hand.]

It's not discomfort based on the fact that they exist, but on their possible intrusion into my space. [This was such a directly honest answer that Dazai surprised himself.] I have a rather active imagination, you know? Unless it's absolutely necessary, I'd rather not have to factor in ghostly activity when I plan my day-to-day.

[1stknight]

[Dazai, trapping himself in his own embarrassment. It would be funny if it weren't so damn cute.

Okay, no, it was cute and funny at the same time. And while Bedivere did try to keep a straight face for Dazai's sake, he couldn't stop that small, warm chuckle that escaped him.

If he were bolder, maybe he would try to steal a kiss. But Bedivere was not a bold man, not when it came to romance. So hand-holding would have to do for now.]

Would it help you to know that, if you leave them alone, they will usually leave you alone? They more care about entertainment, and as long as you are not entertaining to them then they have no reason to seek you out.

[neverwashere]

[Dazai puffed his cheek - he heard that!

He deflated immediately after, too. Remaining irritated with Bedivere over something like this was hard, doubly so when he noticed how Bedivere's happiness seemed to glow.]

I'll keep your advice in mind, although it doesn't contradict not watching horror films. They could find humans watching movies as entertainment and stick around. Actually, does daydreaming also count? Because that's incredibly unfair.

[1stknight]

Truth be told, they might be more interested in movies in general, not just in watching people watch them. The Fair Folk always did like a good story, so seeing one in addition to hearing it would be a treat even for them.

And no, daydreaming doesn't count. That would be difficult to explain to anyone, much less a being like that. Thoughts are better kept private.

[He was not at all saying that because he had started having interesting daydreams. Dazai had given him plenty of things to fantasize about.]

[neverwashere]

Well, good to know.

[Dazai's head was a mess anyway, though his heart and dick were locked in a contest to determine who'd take second place.]

So as long as I keep any televisions out of the bedroom, I shouldn't have any unexpected nighttime visitors of tge ghostly sort. Right?

[1stknight]

Probably not, yes. Though your ability may convince them to stay away too. Even they fear losing their powers.

[Bedivere still hadn't let go of Dazai's hand.]

Besides, I will keep you safe at night for now, Dazai. You have nothing to fear as long ass I am here.

[neverwashere]

[It was sweet of Bedivere to offer and a flush, unbidden, tinged Dazai's cheeks ]

My very own knight, huh? I'm sure you'll do great.

[Sounded cheesy. Sappy. Dazai cleared his throat and pointed at a random part of the page in the chameleon book.]

Find anything interesting about your tiny dragons, Sir Knight?

[1stknight]

[Fortunately for Dazai, Bedivere was easily distracted when he was relaxed like this. Unfortunately for Dazai, he had just opened up the floodgates for chameleon facts.

Hopefully Dazai didn't have any plans for the next hour, because unless Dazai interrupted him Bedivere would keep going with what he had learned on chameleons from that book. Bedivere wasn't one to do anything in half-measures, and if he was going to be interested in something then he was going to learn as much as he could about it.]

[neverwashere]

[Nope, no other plans for today since it was declared a day off, and Dazai eventually ended up resting his head on Bedivere's shoulder as he listened.]

Quick study, aren't you. [Teasingly,] After all this, would you go so far as to find the nearest chameleon island and make that your permanent residence?

[1stknight]

[Oh. This was close. This was close and it made him feel warm.]

It's tempting, but I don't think I could help many humans by doing that. So I will have to refrain.

[neverwashere]

Then: an inland chameleon sanctuary? Travel might be easier.

[Look, all he wanted was for Bedivere to be happy under a pile of chameleons. Humans were inevitably going to be Too Much and best kept at arm's length to recharge.]

[1stknight]

Maybe I could work at a zoo part-time and work in their reptile house.

[Part-time, because he still has to be a valiant knight and save people the rest of the time.]

[neverwashere]

So part-time zookeeper, part-time good samaritan?

[He poked Bedivere's side. The saving people thing, it seemed, would always be the top priority.]

Awfully busy man you'd be.

[1stknight]

You say that like we are not busy now.

[They do have a big battle in the next couple of days. That was why a rest day was important.

He took the poking with a smile, though.]

[neverwashere]

This is different.

[That poke turned into a shirt clutch.

It wasn't that they weren't busy now, but Dazai would rather not say they might be busy separately in the future. Heck, he wasn't even sure if he should say something like 'call once in a while,' because there were too many presumptions required for that to even be a possibility.]

[1stknight]

[He noticed that shirt-clutch.]

I suppose you are right. This is different.

[He had the feeling that Dazai was overthinking things again so he gave Dazai's hand a gentle squeeze.]

[neverwashere]

...mmm.

[He appreciated that quiet understanding and squeezed back, making up for the maudlin mood over dinner by showing Bedivere a couple more Beowulf-inspired media. And exposing Bedivere to the rabbit hole of the internet. Plus how informal explainer videos got nowadays. And something called Beocat. Followed, once they were in bed, with a reprisal of last night's activities.

The end result, of course, was that Dazai was too lazy to get out of bed the following morning, having resumed his role as a human octopus.]

[1stknight]

[Oh, those were delightful. As much as Bedivere enjoyed the original stories, he found the way they were retold and analyzed to be absolutely fascinating. Humans truly were bastions of creativity, weren't they? And it seemed like Bedivere had found a new hobby, though his time spent on it would be limited until the Grail War was over.

After all, he had other hobbies he wanted to indulge in while he still had the chance. And with every bit of experience Bedivere gained, his actions in bed grew bolder. It seemed that the reserved man had a taste for being in control, though it would still be a bit of a struggle until he found a solution for 'only one arm works when touching Dazai.' Grinding against Dazai to completion was possible, and it would free up his hand so he could pin Dazai down or just hold himself up over Dazai, but it wasn't quite as satisfactory as the squeeze of a hand.

He still had a strong desire to kiss Dazai, and he still channeled that desire into other touches.

His dreams that night weren't quite as depressing as they had been the previous night. Dreams of allies made in the twilight of his quest, of a friendly archer and of several mountain people in masks. Of a pink-haired girl and a young master, there to set right what had gone wrong. That young master...Bedivere didn't know them for long, but he would have been satisfied to be summoned by them, he thought. They had a good heart and a determination to do right.

That was one of Bedivere's few regrets with his plan. If he wished to stay here in Yokohama, he would never have the chance to see that master again.

Ah, well. They had said their goodbyes. Forgetting Dazai- and Yokohama in general- would be too painful to bear.

That morning, Bedivere didn't push Dazai to get out of bed. Even if they had to fight that day, he wanted to stay right there and pretend everything would be alright and that he wasn't anxious. Both of them could die that day, and this could be their last time together. Knowing that, Bedivere didn't want to rush the morning.]

[neverwashere]

[Bedivere taking control, now - that was a pleasant surprise that got Dazai all hot and bothered when it happened, and it was regrettable that his Ability affected Bedivere's silver arm. That frustration he channeled into scraping his nails down Bedivere's back, and the hook of his leg around Bedivere's waist as encouragement.

Should he, instead, wish for No Longer Human to be deactivated at will? This was the first time he seriously considered it, and the thought followed him in his dreams: Atsushi returning to human form that first time, interspersed with cozy evenings at the Lupin with Odasaku and Ango. No Longer Human putting a halt to Akutagawa and Atsushi in that alleyway encounter on Atsushi's first case.

Nothing as interesting as Bedivere's memories, and his face remained buried on the knight's shoulder long after he woke as he soaked in the man's warmth.]

...that girl and her companion. [His voice was still a little rough from sleep, when he thought to break the silence.] Their clothes were different.

[Understatement of the century.]

[1stknight]

Mmm, they were.

[An acknowledgement of Dazai's words, as he tried to think of how to explain who they were.]

They were time travelers from a future far beyond even this time. Things had gone wrong, people from their time had gone back and changed the past. And they had to go fix those changes, to save the future.

Since I was there to experience it, I do remember how the past was changed in that one instance. But I don't remember the others, because those not involved only remember the fixed timeline.

...they were hard workers, and good people. I hope they're doing alright in the future. When we parted ways, they had one last point in the past to fix before they were done with their journey.

[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?