formless | open rp post 2017

[She nods again and settles back onto her heels. Though not exactly how she would imagine Cu Chulainn to look, he is the picture of a warrior: Tall, muscular, and as Ireland said, very handsome. Apart from him being blunt, he's got a pleasant laugh too, so maybe he'll be easy to get along with. Or so she hoped, anyway.]

I have. It's nice to meet you, really, Cu Chulainn. [Obviously, if she knew about the classes, she wouldn't be calling him that.] But I really do not know a single thing. I do not know how I summoned you either, or why. Just that you are here.

[She gives him a look over again, curious. Wars aren't foreign to her, but this one might have her in over her head. And yet, she fears nothing.] Is this war important to you? In which case--

[Immediately she stands up to attention, straight back, legs together, hand on her chest. The tone of her voice is firm, and her eyes darker.] What would you want me to do, comrade? Tell me everything, if we are to be partners. I summoned you, no? Then I will do my best, for you are now under my protection.

[It was just for a minute, but she breaks position.] Unless you prefer to settle down first? You only just got here.

That's - and I just told you my true name. Great.

[ He sighs quietly and lifts a hand to rub at his forehead. Just his luck. His terrible, awful luck. His expression settles into a frown as he listens to her. At least she's enthusiastic and apparently willing to learn, but - man, she's strange. It's hard to get a good feel for her magic circuits or anything else about her. There's a sense of power, but not quite the same as any other magus he's encountered. ]

Well, since I'm here, I assume there's a Grail War on, right? Which means that we're going to be fighting six other masters and their Heroic Spirits for possession of the Holy Grail, which has incredible power. And there must be something you want form it, or you wouldn't be here-!

[ He reaches out to grab her wrist. ]

Hey, lemme see your hand.

True name...[That must be his name Cu Chulainn, but it appears she should not be using it.] Then I should refer to you as...?

[She tilts her head, frowning because he's stressing out. But, now with the explanation, it makes a bit more sense. Well, enough sense, but not completely. She has questions about these other masters, their Heroic Spirits. This Holy Grail, which she only knows from Arthurian and religious legends. And if they're trying to fight for the Holy Grail, then obviously, even if she didn't want it, they would be after her and Cu anyway.

She's quiet, her words short, as she tries to process this.]

So it's a war, seven fronts. And I have a Lancer, a hero of old as my army? [She taps her chin in thought.] As for what I want from the Grail, not that I know of. [However, she does have a lot of ambition, so it could have triggered it.] I mean, who doesn't have hopes and dreams? But...[Should she be fighting for something that sounds like it's pitting others against each other in order to give them something they want? Sounds a bit suspicious.

Either way, she lets him look at her hand, her wrist easily taken and on it--]

Wait, that wasn't there before.

[The red marks on her hand that unfurls like a flower in intricate strokes.]

[ Then again, maybe it's one of those weird wars where there's seven to a side, but that would imply there were other people around. Instead it's just her and it's just him. He's still frowning, but there it is - a flower of command seals on the back of her hand. He stares for a long moment, brow furrowed as he tries to collect his thoughts. What the Hell - a mage who doesn't know she's a mage. Who has basically no magic circuits.

This keeps getting weirder and weirder. ]

Command seals. They're proof that you're my master - that you're involved in this thing.

[ Hmmph. He's not sure whether he's relieved or just irritated. ]

Do I have to explain these, too?

[Exactly that, she is wondering, who else is involved? She hasn't felt, heard anything, but considering that he's only just appeared, perhaps information will come soon. She will try to figure it out, step by step. After all, he looks distressed. Is it because she knows nothing? Those who partake in this war must know everything there is to know. To be a magi.

Her hand clenches in his grip, trying to look at her markings.]

Command seals... [She repeats, but it's true, she knows nothing about it.]

I am thinking it is something to do with commanding you. [Her eyes suddenly narrow. After all, she doesn't like the idea of enslaving someone, even if they are now bound.] Please. I need to know if I have to use them.

I guess I'll do you a favor and fill you in. Even if you seem useless.

[ He should do something else. Kill her, find another master, because a part of him is sure that she's just going to get him needlessly killed. She understands nothing. Tch. ]

When you use a command seal, I have to follow the order. I'm compelled by magic, even if it would result in my death. But you only get three - so if you want me dead, you make sure it sticks. Or I come back and take care of you.

Hey! I heard that again!

[He just called her useless, right to her face. She scoffs to herself because in all honesty, she does seem that way, doesn't she? She's small, slender, and doesn't look like she could hurt. But that's exactly how she wants to appear. So she doesn't argue, yet.

So despite looking a bit pouty, she listens carefully. And now she looks at the markings on her hand, it's pretty definite there are three.]

So that is what it is. I am not willing to try nor use them. You are bound only to your own choices, whether or not you wish to work with me. [She crosses her arms and taps her chin, until suddenly she smiles. It's eerily sweet, as small as it is, since this is someone who doesn't often smile. It seems like he pressed a particular button.]

So I won't try to command your death, I promise. Besides, can you really take care of me? I can't die. At most, you'll just hurt me in the worst way possible, and then I will heal and stand up. [Good ol' immortality by being linked to the world.]

You're an idiot, then.

[ He scoffs and drops her arm with a shake of his head. ]

Just because I've been summoned to serve you doesn't mean we get along. Or that I'll even see you as worthy. Servants kill their own masters sometimes and try to set themselves up with another magi. Or sometimes they just don't like their master. And we're usually more powerful. Those seals - those are your insurance policy against people like me.

[ He seems not a wit affected by her declaration of loyalty. Or her implication that she can't be killed. ]

Do you want to test that? I'd rather not stain my spear with the blood of my master just yet, but...

[They've only just met, and he's threatened to kill her if she's a poor master. And in a way, it makes sense. It's a war, no? Then of course he would want a better master. She actually appreciates the explanation, despite the fact that he is pretty sure this isn't going to end well. Maybe he's right. But she is fearless, and none of this deters her.

She does soften up, understanding his dilemma.]

Words will not convince you, as this is the first time we have met. And I am ignorant, unknowing of this world beyond my own, of a Holy Grail War. According to you, I am an anomaly. I'm not telling you to trust me and I don't have to prove anything. But if we are bound by some strange act of fate, then I'm willing to give it my all. It's too crazy for me to overlook, so I will do this for the sake of my people. So watch me instead.

Cu Chulainn, whose spear never misses. [She takes his hand, brings it to her chest and curls it, so that his finger points to her heart.] Do you dare?

Edited 2017-12-27 01:10 (UTC)

[ Oh ho. His eyebrows shoot up as she takes his hand and aims it directly at her heart. She knows his legend. She knows what he can do. And yet she's challenging him to end her - right here and now. To pierce her fragile, human body and leave her for the crows. Lancer actually laughs aloud, eyes wide and staring and lit up with a strange sort of savage joy. ]

I like that. I like you. You're serious - you're willing to let me put my lance through your chest. I can see that in your eyes. You're... impressive.

[ A part of him wants to try. Just to see what will happen. ]

I have to admit, now I'm reluctant to kill you.

[It's true, she knows parts of it well, at least the cool parts, being that Ireland spoke about it nonstop. And she's confident that he'd be able to, considering that he materialised in the middle of her room. Pretty sure with that kind of magic, anything is possible. And she doesn't even draw her eyes away from his, calm but fierce, as he laughs, and she notes, his eyes, slit, beast like. Filled with raw honesty just at that very moment. One could call her crazy, but she actually likes it, she likes how he says it as it is.]

I mean, you can still try. Even in my sleep, as any tactic is viable in war. I would not fault you. But, I rather not be pierced fatally. Bloodstains are hard to clean, and it will still hurt. [That's all she's worried about?!

She gives him a small smile.] Besides, I would still get to see the spear of Cu Chulainn.

Now, if you are reluctant. [And she opens his hand again, and places her palm against his. It's small, but the way she touches his hand isn't just gentle, there is this strange control about it, something about how she commands the movement of her own fingers.] Then are you willing to take a chance on me?

You'd rather not be pierced fatally? But that's what you asked me to do. You asked me to run Gae Bolg through you - and my spear doesn't miss.

[ The lance comes off of his shoulder and the point swings down in a slow, lazy arc as he gives himself a bit of space, until the point is leveled at her chest. His eyes watch her, waiting to see how she reacts. What she'll do. His other hand is still locked with hers, hand out stretched, squeezing it with a painful intensity. ]

You challenged me. Is that still what you want?

It won't be fatal. [He doesn't get it until he sees it, she knows that much.] It won't miss, but it won't be fatal. Perhaps it is easier if you witness it yourself. Besides, if I truly die, you could find yourself a Master of your liking.

[She watches the lance head, pointed at her chest, and with a nudge of her free hand, fixes it so it targets her heart more easily. Her hand doesn't even flinch when he squeezes it, though she is beginning to feel the pain inflicted on her, and she squeezes it back. Encouragingly, as if she's telling him it will be okay.]

Do your worst.

As you command.

[ He is a little reluctant to kill her out of hand. But she's trying to prove something. So he allows her to. His arm goes back and then he thrusts it forward in one of his quick, fatal blows, moving almost too fast to see. ]

[And then she screams, the pain a shockwave through her whole body, and she falls limp, flopped over his spear, dead.

Or so it seemed, as she propped herself up, holding onto the spear with an impossible grip as her knees are weakened from the pain. Blood spills all over the floor, her shirt, and now she wished she had taken it off first, but it was an impulsive decision. She bites her teeth together so hard that her mouth bleeds.

The problem with living through every fatal blow is that you can feel every part of it. That pain is immense, and no country ever wanted to feel it. But such is history, such is life. It's hard to breathe, but she manages to lift her head, look at him in the eye, and--]

It...really...really stings.

[No shit, Sen-chan.]

[ Huh. His head cocks to one side and he stares as she props herself up, a hand on the haft of his spear. Well. That shouldn't be happening. Especially if she's a human. For a long moment he stares and then he slides the spear free of her body, watching as a stream of blood further stains her clothing and spatters against the floor. ]

Only stings?

[ He wraps an arm around her with a snort, propping her up. ]

You should be dead.

[One last growl as he pulls the spear out of her, that pain burning as her blood spills out from being unplugged by the blade. She's going to have to do so much cleaning--!!

Sen nearly collapses to her knees if not for Cu's strong arm propping her up, and instinctively she grips onto his torso: one part to keep upright, the other to keep some distance so that she wouldn't cover him in her blood. Though it is too late, her hands were already soaked.]

Y-you...get blood all over you. [She laughs weakly. There was something about his reaction. He's quite calm about this, actually, and a little bit amused.]

It does hurt! [She coughs, trying to wipe the blood from her mouth.] But do you understand now? I can not die. Due to the severity, I estimate a week before the scars of this wound will disappear, but the bleeding will stop soon.

[And yet she still manages to look up to face him, a small smile struggling to stay on her lips.] Your attack was very fast, if not for the fact I was the target, I think I would've found it exhilarating. Like a flash of red--!

I've been covered in blood before.

[ Cu laughs, although it's a touch humorless. He's honestly rather impressed that she's not dead. Gae Bolg is generally supposed to kill whatever it hits. He hoists her a bit higher and then settles for giving her something solid to lean on. ]

Now what? You just want to stand here until you stop bleeding?

[She gives him a slight smile, mostly because she can't even find the energy to laugh anymore.] Not the first time I've been covered in blood either.

[Sen is grateful, however, to be able to lean on him when it was becoming a real struggle to stand. He's a comforting presence, calm and cheeky, even after being faced with something that could've been rather disastrous. She didn't know how the mystical could work, after all, maybe he could've been right: she could've died.

And also she's making a mess of things, when she has to clean it all up later.]

Is it possible to help me walk to the bathroom? If I had to bleed all over something, it best be the tub. It's just a short walk, out of this room, down the hall.

Right, right.

[ He hoists her into his arms and carries her like she weighs nothing, ducking down the hallway and into the bathroom. He settles her into the tub, watching her with a curious gaze, and then raises a hand to tuck her hair out o the way. ]

You should probably clean off.

Wai-- [Wait, she was about to say, as picks her right up, when she said she just needed help walking. Although realistically, this is a better idea, but she didn't want to make a mess of things when she really should be treating him. After all, he's a guest.

Not that it's hard for him. She lays in the tub, stays perfectly still when he brushes her hair from her face. She's not sure if it's the blood loss, but after his actions and gestures, he feels...safe.]

Thank you, Cu. I really should be taking you around, but instead you have to pick me up. I'll make it up to you, really.

But first, you're right. I should clean off. I think the blood is beginning to stop as well... [She reaches to undo her buttons when she looks at him...]

Goodness! [HE'S RIGHT THERE, also--] Fresh...clothes...

You weigh basically nothing, so don't worry about it. You're a slip of a thing.

[ He shrugs his (broad) shoulders and then pushes back to his feet, face creased with a slight frown. ]

Don't look at me. I don't know where you keep anything around here. What do you expect me to do about that...?

Ah...I suppose I am that small--

[Nice broad shoulders, Lancer. MEANWHILE, SHE KNOWS. THERE IS A BIT OF A DILEMMA.]

Hngh--!

[THINK.] You...don't have to look for my clothes! I will!

[...] Just turn on the water for me, and bring my towels when I am done, please? They're hanging just by the hooks over on that wall. [She gestures over, sitting up suddenly, except she winces and holds the edge of the tub.] I'm beginning to feel better, really. After that, I'll give you the tour and set you up your room.

Well. Alright. I'll be here if you need me, Master-

[ He reaches over and cranks the water on, trying to set it to something vaguely comfortable before he ducks out of the bathroom. He's going to explore the house on his own, of course.

Don't hold it against him, Viet. ]

[And so she bathes. She's making a quick recovery, though with her heart pierced, her chest stings horribly all the time.

As for her place? Cu will find it's tidy and well kept. There's nothing too weird around, but if he accidentally finds her secret weapons room with her firearms, then...pretend it's not there.

But it's a place he can relax, for sure. Aside from the blood on the floor.

Soon, he'll find Vietnam walking out, slow and while still a struggle, she's upright. Wearing only a sleeveless top and her shorts, she has her flowing out and a towel dabbing at it to dry.]

Cu Chulainn?

[Where is that man?!]

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