The Hound of Culann

affiliated with Eidolon Path

[blue-hound-blog1]

lamaldat‌:

Angra Mainyu’s expression grew annoyed as Lancer just poked at him again with his weapon. That damned man was quite insistent. Bored of it, the Avenger sighed and slapped Gáe Bolg away, as one would do to scare away a fly.

“Fine, fine”, he agreed, reluctantly. He would remember this. “Yes, I am no hero and I’m not Shirou Emiya. Though I was him once”.

He made a pause, to see if his partner was patient enough to listen further. The boy changed his weigh from one feet to the other, weighing up the idea of trying to escape again. But with the cursed lance pointed at his chest it was clear that he wouldn’t make it very far. 

“You see, well known people like you have it easy, with your shinny weapons and fancy powers and shit. People like me have to be content with the scraps we have left”. Angra Mainyu pointed at his own face, a smug expression on it, even though his eyes gleamed with some unknown force. “‘I’ am no one. Just a name, a shadow forgotten from history. And to be ‘someone’ i have to become ‘someone else’. Shirou Emiya just happened to be there when I needed him and I kinda grew attached to this form. That’s all there is to it”.

A servant without shape, without a legend. A creature overflowing with darkness even if they had been denied of all magical power and spiritual awareness.

There was indeed one spirit whose true name could awaken that fear in others. The tainted blood within the grail, the legendary curse of all evils. 

“If that’s true, if you’re ...truly him, then I should end you here.”  As the boy swatted the spear, this one returned, with more violence as Lancer tried to push him backwards into a nearby tree. Gáe Bolg held horizontally across his neck like a prison.

“Even where your blood is spilled nothing will grow in centuries. If you’re truly the cursed Angra Manyu then..., your end is nigh.”

[blue-hound-blog1]

illusixnry‌:

With all the times Touya had ventured out into the Great White, he hadn’t stumbled upon a lone cabin before. Then again, he was fairly sure he hadn’t ventured out this far away from the village before.

Yet perhaps he should have stayed close, as the winds from the storm began to increase in serverity, the freezing winds sending a chill down his spine, practically forcing him to move quicker to the cabin. Once he was at the door, he wasted no time with knocking, instead opening the door and proceeding to close it once he was inside.

“God damn that’s cold. Where the hell did that storm come from…” Touya mutters to himself, standing next to the entrance for a few moments until he warms up a little. Eventually, he starts walking, making his way to the first door he spots, finding someone sitting inside as he opens the door. He pauses, looking rather stunned, as if he didn’t expect to find anyone else in the cabin.

Lancer was mentally counting the number of cigs still left in his pocket when a sudden gust of winter wind brushed his face as the door was opened. A second soul had dared to venture into the far reaches of the mountains and now sought refuge, just like him.

He studied the image, a young one as cold and tired as him.

“Oi,” he greeted, a hand waving at the newcomer. 

“It’s worse than what we thought, and I don’t think it’ll end anytime soon.” He took another sip of the hot chocolate he had managed to prepare.

“And looks like we’re alone here too. I guess we’ll be partners in the Snowhouse for a while, eh? Take a sit, you look tired.”

[blue-hound-blog1]

saintofknaves‌:

“Cú… No shit? I’ve gone toe to toe with legends and descendants of legends but never any kind of faerie. Just. Cultists mostly. Mermaids sometimes. Ghosts.”

“I know I got myself into this mess my heart is so full of desire~! Someone so full of wishes must have been irresistible to a force like that.” He makes an exaggerated gesture, hand on his heart and a terrible little wink. “But it all seems just a little farfetched to me still. And I’ve seen everything from Nessie to nahuals. I did think it was some kinda trap, a real elaborate one.” He almost goes on to say JUST how impossible he is to catch but leaves that out for now.

“You really think there’s a goddess here, though?” He looks up at the moon, blows some smoke rings around it, catches it for himself for just a second until the snow disturbs enough air to shred the fragile rings.

Cú listened intently. A man whose heart was full of desire and yet it lacked the one wish to believe. He inhaled, tasting the bitter smoke. 

“Why shouldn’t be a goddess here? You seem to be the one completely opposite to me. I don’t have any wishes more than living every single day. But still, I can’t imagine the one behind this not bein’ a real goddess. If she’s done her thing out of kindness or if there’s some hidden reason, it doesn’t bother me.”

His gaze followed the other’s, back into the icy moon. 

“If there isn’t a goddess, then, what brought us here? Is that what you’re tryin’ to discover?”

[blue-hound-blog1]

lamaldat‌:

Angra Mainyu almost snorted. Only one life? Ha! If only Lancer knew how many times had he died already. A part of him was even curious to know what would happen if he was killed in this place. He would probably go back to where he had always been, which was honestly not much of a big deal.

“Ouch” he protested anyway when the tip of the lance dug into his skin through his clothes. It was not that painful, but the damned weapon was sharp and unpleasant against the flesh. “You know, maybe if you weren’t threatening to skewer me I would feel more inclined to answer”.

He brought his fingers to Gáe Bolg, tentatively trying to push it away. His eyes, fixated into the lance and who had been painted with a bored expression, turned up to Cú Chulainn, and the glimmer in them changed. That dull, old gold dug into the other like rusty knives.

“We have met. Just that you don’t remember. We even had the same Master for a while, how’s that? We could almost call each other comrades!”

He snikered, as if he had told a joke only he could understand. 

The brat was cornered but it strangely felt otherwise. There was no fear, no concern, the dirty of color of those eyes only smiled back at him.

“Wouldn’t be the first time I’m stuck in a war with a group of bastards.” The irritated frown turned into a glare. Honest and shameless.

“And what else? I’ve probably teamed up with more than what we all remember. Yet none have ever been like you. You’re no hero, not with that face. And I know if that boy turned into a heroic spirit someday he’d never become an Avenger like you. He was stronger than that.” The spear’s tip poked him again.

“Keep talkin’, we have all evening.”

[blue-hound-blog1]

saintofknaves‌:

“I’m still figuring everything out. I’m a bit of an inventor. An artist. But really I wanna know the locals and the food before I dive into workin and hunting.” He strikes and takes a couple of puffs and doesn’t seem to care the cigarettes are poor quality. He looks as happy as can be, puffs his chest full of smoke and lets it flood out his nose and mouth in billowing clouds with a satisfied sigh. “I’m real excited, whether anything grants wishes here or not… I’ll never be bored.” Name though. He considers giving one of his aliases for a second, remembers sadly–and with some strange excitement– it doesn’t really matter here. He drops any connotation he ever came from a family with a legacy. “Lupin. Just Lupin is fine! N’ you?

“The name’s Cú Chulainn, or just Cú. Some around call me Lancer. Don’t worry, all works.” He inhaled again and looked up into the icy moon, it was one pleasant last snow. 

“So an inventor was dragged into this place, searching for a wish. In the end, I think it’s us the ones who got themselves here, more than being summoned, y’know? Still. We’re trapped. But I guess an inventor like you probably realized what was goin’ on.” He smiled, careless as he exhaled another white cloud. 

“So far so good, until the goddess decides to get rid of us.”.

[blue-hound-blog1]

lamaldat‌:

Once that the discomfort ceased, Angra Mainyu could stand straight again, only to have the point of the lance he had previously stolen pointed over his heart. Call that an unexpected turn of events. And also quite ironic if he had to say so.

There was no fear in his eyes as he looked back at Cú, as if the the threat to his life was of no importance. He almost looked bored now that the hunt was over, completely uninterested in the outcome of that encounter. 

“Cut to the chase, are we?” He said, nonchalantly, as he scratched the nape of his neck. “Fair enough. You caught me, so I guess I can answer one of your questions”.

His lips formed a smile. If Lancer was familiar with Shirou Emiya, he would know that such a twisted expression would never appear on that boy’s face. 

“The name’s Angra Mainyu. Or Avenger. Up to you”. He shrugged. “As to why I have this face and body is a long story. Boring and irrelevant. We could be here all day and night until morning if I tried to explain it to you”.

“I asked more than one, and you’ve got only one life. Don’t waste it.” Don’t force me to stain this spear again.

That strange, abhorrent smile in the darkened Shirou’s face was all too disturbing to ignore. 

Without another word, Gae Bolg’s tip pricked the boy’s chest. “That name. Sounds familiar.” His own demeanor had changed, shadowed, cold, wary, as if all who entered in contact with the filth of his presence were helplessly twisted.

“Why are you so related to us even if we have never seen you before? Very few bear the curse of the Avengers. If you’re bored, lemme tell you I’m even more bored than you. But there’s a difference. I can kill you and you can’t kill me. Now, spit it out.”

[blue-hound-blog1]

saintofknaves‌:

”Believe it or not I’m used to living in that kinda mess. It’s not too bad but I’m too nosy to stay warm. Not much nightlife out here though.” several long strides through the snow and it’s probably evident he has his socks roped to the bottom of his shoes instead of on his feet.. A little weird, yeah, but it muffles his footsteps  a fair amount. Lupin makes a very tiny, joyful noise at being offered a smoke. He goes from smooth and cocky to Immediate Friend. “Oh, oh I owe you. Yeah I’d love one! Where’d you get a hold of them? I figured maybe some alchemists here might make ‘em.” He reaches inside the lining of his jacket–not the obvious pocket where his hand should have gone–and pulls out a little cheap lighter… which clicks and clicks and the flint never strikes a spark. He groans and gives up on it. “Mind if I use a match, there….?

Nightlife? Oh, right, he had forgotten about that. This ‘nightlife’ of modern times was quite different from the nightlife involving raids, plunder, and feasting. It took a few seconds for him to understand how quiet the footsteps of that stranger truly were. Was he a hunter of some sorts?

“Sure,” Cú picks up one of the matches, offering it. “Shame your lighter isn’t working. Those things are the best. I kinda miss ‘em too.” He sighed, dishearted, just remember the advantages of the modern era he wouldn’t see anytime soon. 

“And yup, that’s right. You see, I have several jobs across the village and sometimes I gather stuff for one of the alchemists. I chose to be paid like this.” The smile widened, it was clear the stranger shared a similar interest. 

“Name’s?”

[blue-hound-blog1]

@illusixnry

The storm outside honored the name of that lonely refuge in the mountains. It was clear the weather changed drastically the more he distanced himself from the village’s warmth. Even if the forest around it progressively grew warmer and greener with the new season, the mountains were still a mystery.

‘Cold’, he thought after closing the window, his nose red and irritated by the weather. 

He then sat back, alone in the dining room of that distant Snowhouse. It seemed he had not been the only fool to wander alone into the mountains before Spring.

[blue-hound-blog1]

tempesse‌:

          ── amidst feeling quite confused about this new world and baffled by the circumstances surrounding her arrival, weiss has felt very lost and useless. she’s found herself a bit on the anxious side with seemingly nothing to work for aside from resource gathering for the townspeople. but she amounts it to not knowing enough ─ surely there’s more to things that meets the eyes, and weiss definitely isn’t going to sit around and wait for something to happen!

     she busies herself with odd jobs and learning as much as she can. this particular day, she finds herself wandering the town square ─ partly to do some shopping, partly to learn as much as she can about this world. her attention is drawn to a particular stand: a floral stand, with flora she’d never seen before ( duh, she’s in a whole new world! ). she takes a few steps closer, blue hues enchanted by the sight before her. 

     it takes her a few moments to notice the pair of eyes gazing upon her from beyond the stand. weiss straightens herself out, feeling a tad embarrassed she’d brushed someone off like that. 

     ❝hello, sorry about that. ❞ she greets, a polite smile decorating her features, ❝ your stand really is wonderful. i’ve never seen such amazing plant life. ❞

The town was busy, just as the forest and life awakened after the long winter. But between that multitude, Cú noticed something different. Someone, pale hair and that strange glow which radiated from the snow blossoms decorating the stand.

He looked up, blinking as he found the girl’s gaze. And smiled, eyes closing as he welcomed her.

“I’m just the shop assistant, missy. Whatever you need, just ask.” A hand reached for one of the crystalline blooms, one he dragged before the girl, holding it up.

“One like this, perhaps? Looks like if it has bloomed just for ya!”

[blue-hound-blog1]

saintofknaves‌:

The usual boisterous manner leaves itself in his bunkhouse. He’d worked out how to be completely silent, but to be silent and warm at the same time was something else entirely with the gear he had now. Still, the smell of tobacco smoke pulls him in like a magnet pulls iron. Usually he’d just stride up, slip a cig out of whatever pack someone was holding, light his and theirs and hope to strike up a conversation but he stops short.

This guy is one of those hero-types, or that’s what Lupin calls them to himself. People with big weapons and wild intensity he’d only ever truly encountered before in one guy he was lucky enough to have on his side.

It’s a good chance to watch and learn, so he stands back and slows his approach. Maybe find out about these people… after all they seemed more at home in a place full of alchemy and monsters than he did, and Lupin usually considered himself more versed in supernatural encounters than most people.

His eyes had closed as he inhaled deeply and sighed a white mist. Yet his senses easily caught the silhouette in the darkness. One eye opened, bright red, a slit pupil like a large beast. But there was no malice, instead, a friendly blink regarded him.

“Oi. I’m guessin’ you also need a break from the Bunkhouse’s mess?” He finally turned his head, inviting him to approach.

“It’s a nice one, probably the last of the year.” He judged the stranger, an adult with a scruffy look, a human, most likely another of the “wishers” as he lacked the local folk charm.

“Want a cig? They taste like tinder but it’s better than nothin” A hand reached to his side, holding out the hand-made box.

[blue-hound-blog1]

lamaldat‌:

The Lancer called him. Fool, as if he was going to turn back at let himself be killed like that.

Gáe Bolg burdened him as he run through the forest, not used to carrying any other weapons besides his daggers. Perhaps he should have left the lance behind, but… Nah, despite the danger this was fun. There was a strange joy in his heart, certainly as if he had just met and old friend. Ha, such bullshit.

The Avenger moved swiftly, surprisingly so for someone who usually showed quite a lazy and uninterested demeanor. He moved forward with the same instinct of a beast, to the point where he wasn’t even focusing on his surroundings. His body moved on its own, heart pumping fast and strongly and he felt the blood at the tip of his fingers…

Until one hit to the stomach snatched all the air from his lungs. 

Angra Mainyu was fast, but not fast enough to deflect that surprise blow. He was sent backwards with a gasp, stumbling and finally falling on his knees over the snow. Gaé Bolg slipped from his fingers and fell too, almost like crystalized blood on that frozen land.

“Hah… you… caught me…” the boy said between coughs, holding his stomach. Despite the blow a pained smile twisted his lips. “Shit… guess I’m still… not good, huh?” 

Cú looked him from above, superior and irritated.

“D’ah, I wish you were just a kid playing with the wrong toy.” Without another word, the tip of his foot kicked the spear’s end, sending it into the air twirling before effortlessly capturing into his fist.

The spear was twirled again, and stopped dryly, the blade’s end inches from the strange boy’s heart.

“Seems you won’t talk unless cornered. I’m fine with that.” Those beast-like eyes narrowed, judging Angra Manyu. The scene was painfully familiar if it wasn’t for the glowing snow around them and the bright evening above them. If it wasn’t for the pungent darkness radiating from the boy.

“I’ll ask again. What are you? Why you have that kid’s face. Why is your body covered in curses?” 

[blue-hound-blog1]

@scintillaeki

The tavern was boiling with customers again as if the end of the Winter had spurred the village out of their homes. The hearth’s fire still burned brightly and the remains of the festival spice bread were still being offered. And those which weren’t, simply joined his meal. 

‘Table number twelve!’, the innkeeper barked as  Cú rushed from one side to another with more platters, cups and mugs than any should ever carry. 

“On it, ma’am!” Cú replied as he rushed out of the kitchen, smoothing the apron while stopping before the table. 

“Welcome to our tavern! What would ya like to order today? Menu’s listed on the opposite wall!” A thumb pointed behind him. His smile was bright as if he relatively enjoyed one of his four or five jobs. 

[blue-hound-blog1]

@saintofknaves

That was probably the last snow of the year. Or at least, so he guessed. He could feel it, just like he used to feel the Wheel of the Seasons back when he was still alive in Ireland.

it was the gentle cold, a reminder the winter season would soon fade like a white dream at dawn. And he could only wonder what it meant for the residents of Eidolon and the goddess. 

Cú stepped out of the bunkhouse, his hands buried in the warmth of his pockets soon knew the cold of the night as they retrieved a cigarette and a box of matches. 

He stood outside, lighting up the fire between his hands as he inhaled, sighing a wave of sweet smoke. Cú looked up at the starless sky as the silent flakes continued to fall onto his face. It was a strange happy peace.

[blue-hound-blog1]

@tempesse

That day was the shop assistant day. The local florist had reluctantly Cú’s job application (probably because it had been the only one). 

That day he was alone at the stand by the market in the central square. A perfectly lined row of snow lilies shimmered in the morning sun like the first frost of the year. The sweet fragrance left a gentle tickle in the nose similar to the evening breeze.

He was there, dressed with an apron and a bright, careless smile.

The plantpots were ready, the winter jasmines had been watered and the roses strategically organized according to size and color. 

And now... he had nothing to do. Both elbows rested on the counter and his head propped on his hands. It’d be a long day.

[blue-hound-blog1]

@hisloyalsubject

As the weather thawed, life bloomed in the village. More customers, more opportunities, new jobs, more profit, all was equivalent to better beer and cigs.

This time the job had led him to a particularly interesting request. 

As a scout, bodyguard, scavenger whatever, Cú was the first to pick up the case.

He was supposed to meet the customer in the southern entrance of the village. Given the details of the job, he guessed it was some pompous old alchemist.

But what he found was completely different.

A short, lithe boy, or perhaps a young man, it was hard to tell. 

“Oi,” he greeted, a hand rising as he rested the spear on his shoulder. “I’m the one you hired.I’ll do as you say and assure you return home in one piece.” The confident smile was a strange contradiction between certainty and complete carelessness. 

[blue-hound-blog1]

lamaldat‌:

For once that he tried to be nice and it completely backfired.

Lancer did not requite his jovial greeting. He recognised the face, that much he stated, but not even that seemed to awake a spark of sympathy in him. 

“Damn, so cold”. Angra Mainyu complained, pouting. When Cú Chulainn got on the roof, he stood up, lance still firmly grasped. “You did not hate Shirou Emiya, as far as I recall. Do you really dislike me so much that you would kill him?”

The answer was quite obvious, if he thought about it. After all, the Hound of Ulster was a man that never let friend or foe stop his weapon, going as far as to kill his own son. He might not dislike Shirou, but the hero had killed him once and would do it again if he thought he should.

Feeling his killing intention so clearly, Angra Mainyu’s ‘fight or flee’ instinct rushed forward. There was no way that he could win over a legendary hero like Cú Chulainn, not now nor even if he had his Servant powers back. Therefore, there was only one answer possible…

The Avenger shrugged with an apologetic smile and then jumped from the roof, landing on the grown covered in snow, running towards the forest like a mouse escaping from a cat.

“You’re not him, that’s obvious!” By the time he glanced up, the other was already back in the snow. Oh, that lil’ cretin running like a rat. He was surprisingly and annoyingly fast. And was worst, he was taking his precious Gáe Bolg with him.

“Come ‘ere, bastard!” he called fruitlessly as he allowed himself to drop from the rooftop, chasing the shadow into the forest. Something about that stranger infuriated him, his very presence reminded him of an enemy or a threat. He needed answers and it looked like one of those time where he’d had to let his fists do the talking. 

The frozen woods split ahead, a passage between the trees and the whisper of a river. He knew that way, he had chased a boar (or had been chased by a boar), not too far away from that glade.

There was a short-cut, a way around the large boulder the boy would soon find in his path. Cú took the circumventing path, above the branches like a blue arrow.

Until he landed, right before the boy, without a word, a knee was sent to Angra’s gut.

“Enough of this.”

[blue-hound-blog1]

herosburden‌:  

If Cú wants something to be surprised by, you could probably lift him with the same ease as he pulls you up. The obstacle passed, you let the distance between the two of you grow again.

“Sounds like you know a lot of people.” You can’t deny his assessment of you, but you don’t accept it either, opting for a neutral statement of your own. He doesn’t seem to mean anything by it, but you’re not sure if it’s comforting or frightening to consider that your struggles aren’t unique.

At the sight of the white berries almost hidden against the snow, your eyes light up, the brooding forgotten. With a childlike eagerness, you sprint ahead to the nearest bush and start picking.

“Just some, most of ‘em enemies, tho”. Cú had barely blinked when the young warrior had taken the lead, man, that was surprising.

“So I take you like berries? or perhaps the village’s brat your friend?” He searched for another bush and boredly started picking the berries of brighter, almost luminous red. He knew the smaller, pale ones would result in a bowel disaster. Far too many times to remember. and at the same time, it brought fond memories when he was still alive in the woods, choosing the best berries for breakfast lost in the countless shades of evergreen.

The basket was half full as he found himself munching soundly on a fistful.

“Ready? These are good.”