✩ bitter sweet

...that bracelet you gave me that day. It remained the most important thing to me - even if you were nothing more than his reflection, a mere illusion of what he once was. - - affiliated with - - - - Master - -

[zebira]

[imystral-deactivated20210208]

[juviaa]

[taitetsu]

[taitetsu]

[thekyuukyokuotaku]

[applebla]

[widziszcochcesz-deactivated2014]

[cheri-bomu]

[darfixn]

[maengune]

[and-edelweiss-blog]

* the goat song from the gardens of maecenas

[and-edelweiss-blog]

When he pointed out that she was attracting attention, he didn’t expect her to react in a way that would garner even more of it. So she had been aware all along. Blue thought by holding a conversation in this manner, he would discourage the other from making further attempts. Had he known sooner that this wasn’t the case, he would have disappeared before he could allow a word out of her.

Blue watched in confusion as the girl abruptly stop in mid-sentence, a smile replacing the fleeting shock that came to her all of a sudden. Another unexpected respond came out of her, bewildering Blue just a bit.

A mute? His mind came to his assistant instantly, realizing he would have no means of communication if he were summoned in his place. Along with not being able to read minds, the Grail took it upon itself to not let them speak through it either.

"Not quite," Blue chuckled. "It does take extra effort."

What he meant exactly, he didn’t elaborate. Blue stared at the girl, his eyes filled with a brighter gleam. Was she really a magic-user? A magus? He never sensed a malicious intent from her from the start, but he’d allowed too much of prudence to dominate his thinking. Of course, she was just as human as these people who didn’t see him, just as human as Blue. Of all people, he should be the one most aware that it was not flesh or ability that defined a person.

"Your name?" he asked. "Would you tell me your name?" 

[delerametum]

A cant of the head is the response he gets from the baffled blonde. "...extra effort? Huh. How odd."

Taking into mind that the other servants she had conversed with still had enough energy to go roaming the streets without a care, it didn't seem likely that the cause of him having to expound extra energy to make conversation was insufficient prana offered by the Grail. It was something else...something connected to his previous life perhaps?

She figured that she wasn't in a position to ask him about it just yet. But she swore that she'd find out, someday.

While the whispers from behind her only intensified (courtesy of nosy, desperate housewives and the incessant blabbering of her tour guide who she thought had gone on a lunch break already), the obdurate heiress paid them no heed. No use in paying attention to people who have too much time on their hands to mind an innocent schoolgirl like her.

...well perhaps calling herself an innocent schoolgirl was a bit of a stretch considering the abilities she hold, but her outer shell was the quintessential example of one. 

"Ah yes." Nanami stepped back and offered a small curtsy to the other with a smile. "I am Nanami of the Nishijou family. With my first name being written in kanji as 'seven seas'. Pleased to meet you." Unlike with magus, she does not have issues giving away her name to Servants and Heroic Spirits, and all for the sole reason that if there was one thing she was absolutely sure about them, it was that very few of them are dishonest and shallow-unlike some of the magus she knew. 

With a hand poised to her hip, she cocked her head at him. "...and might I ask your name as well? However, what with the circumstances the Grail has presented to you, I don't mind if all you give me is an alias of sorts." She leaned against a wall, hands entwining behind her back. "...I just need something to adress you with."

[and-edelweiss-blog]

* the goat song from the gardens of maecenas

[and-edelweiss-blog]

 A pond quivered with ripples at the surface, but its depths remain still and hidden from the outside. Should the disturbance travel across the bottom, its pulsations was not something an observer would be able to tell without taking a blind dive into the pool.

That was how Blue was. As the girl was able to guess, he had closed off and sealed himself in this remote area. But it was not an act of detachment - not emotionally. His kind were people of emotions. If others could not hide what they feel from them, then they certainly cannot hide their own emotions from themselves. He allowed her to look as close as she desired, not a push or pull done to reclaim his distance. And yet, even as he made himself vulnerable to her scrutiny, only vague shadows could be made out from the thoughts swimming behind his eyes.

He did not say anything again, but he affirmed her guess when his gaze fell down as if weighing a burden.

Despite how perfectly guarded he had made himself to be, Blue was never really a hard wall that had to be cracked down. The girl didn’t need to take precaution of her body posture. Words pierced very easily, and so he would resort to simply turning away and leaving than allow him to take damage. They made him think of a lot of things. A lot of things concerning his life - the life that he had left behind. From that point on, it was like one end of a rope being tied around a rock and throwing it down the abyss. All things connected followed without rest.

He closed his eyes - her time of looking was over.

"You’re garnering quite the attention, young lady."

A change of subject, but what he said was true. Strange looks and whispers were being exchanged at the sight of the girl talking to herself.

[delerametum]

"Huh. So I see. No wonder you didn't resemble any of the Heroic Spirits I've studied about."

The blonde took his averted gaze as an indication of having affirmed her query, though his uncanny choice of a response resulted in her canting her head questioningly at him. Even for someone like Nanami who was often subjugated to awkward conversations and forced pleasantries, his silence unnerved her. She wondered if even the mere query of his roots was insulting or invasive to him, resulting in the other not giving her more of an answer than a simple nod . If it didn't, it certainly seemed like it.

Even so, while his actions may dishearten others seeking a lively conversation, Nanami remained undeterred. His antisocial behavior, as well as his choice of closing himself off from the complications of the war (unlike the other servants roaming the streets) intrigued her. Like a child fascinated from the prospect of completing a mind-numblingly complicated jigsaw puzzle, she sought to connect the pieces together. There was no deeper reason behind it really. It was of pure, genuine curiosity augmented by her innate stubborn and competitive nature. 

Challenges make life more interesting, no?

"You’re garnering quite the attention, young lady."

Used to hearing that line a hundred times from friends and servants alike, she crossed her arms across her chest and turned away with her nose in the air; an automatic reaction incited from years of being kept under scrutiny. "Oh really? Tell me something I don't know-"

But then realization kicks in, and she froze in place. Nanami turned to him, a childish smile settling on her features. "Ah! You finally talked to me!"  She clapped her hands together in a prayer like position. "I was worried that you might be mute or something." 

[princedisjointed]

Mahiro couldn’t help but chuckle. Whether or not she took the bait was irrelevant, her attitude made it interesting enough even if she was bluffing. He couldn’t deny there were some disturbing similarities between the girl and his sister, and the thought made him shudder.

"I like your confidence, but we’ll see how it holds up."

"If anyone shows up, I’ll just deal with them myself. If my servant wants to go on a rampage, then they’re going to have to wait their turn."

[delerametum]

The chuckle received from the older blonde was given a small smirk in return. Her eyebrow creased upward at the answer somehow similar to her own, but one which made her respect him a bit more. Well. Just a bit. Actually she's already sort of warming up to him shhh...  

Nanami flipped her long blonde hair as she turned on her heel in the opposite direction.   The semblance of a challenging smile flits across her features as she glances at him over her shoulder. "...I'll see you at the finals."

With how the Holy Grail War played out, the reference was nothing more but a metaphorical statement. However, she did not feel the need to explain herself. With that alone, she knew Mahiro understood. It was not a statement made out of arrogance, but of a spiel for her and him to cross swords...

...at the beginning of the end.

[shin-takamiya]

"I see. I’m not surprised about that either." he sighed. He really didn’t like the sound of life as part of a magical family (and from what he could tell, Nanami wasn’t a fan either). He was glad he and his adoptive sister, despite both having magical abilities, had grown up in a healthier environment free from such issues.

He wished he could say the same about his biological sister, but he knew little about her upbringing. That said, he got the vibe she had spent many years undergoing magical training, so it was very likely she was taken in by such a family. The thought made him clench his fist, but he calmed himself down quickly.

"A-ah…sorry to disappoint you. Maybe one day if I do end up meeting one I van introduce you…Which ones do you like most anyway?" He wasn’t really sure if this was the right way to go about changing the subject but at the very least it was better than potentially letting her find out.

"That sounds like a good idea." The two exchanged numbers and Shidou sent a quick text as a test.

[delerametum]

"Miku Izayoi!" Nanami perkily replies. There wasn't the slightest hint of hesitation in her choice, the answer made instant as if her whole world revolved on bluehaired idol alone. "Her voice is really sweet, and well..." She paused, a fist coming to rest underneath her chin in contemplation. "...she's one of the few Magus idols out there I reckon I could hold a decent conversation with."

It was probably because, in a way...Miku was someone she could relate to. F.D.D rang in the background, shaking the lonesome thoughts out of her system. She clicked on the screen of her cell, then texted him back. 

"Alright, got it." Nanami dropped the phone back to her purse and gave the blunette before her a small grin. "I'll come by again tomorrow and-" She gives his door a pointed glare. "-fix up whatever I could. You better watch yourself. Got it? I swear if you die on me I'll jump down to hell and grab your sorry ass back here for a sixty four hour training!"

Despite the harsh choice of words, concern clearly brimmed in the blonde's brilliant violet optics, only somehow disguised by the irate expression on her face. She took a look at her watch, then made a disapproving sound. "Ugh. Guess its time for me to go."

"Sorry, but I have to get going. "Nanami strode towards Shido's front door with her purse in tow. "Thanks for the food by the way. It was pretty...well made." There was actually a truck load of compliments she could dish out for the food he made, but pride held her back from saying them properly. Besides, she did sort of tell him that already anways.

[otonashikyouko]

-CHAOS;HEAD- | 空惣虜団 [pixiv]

[casualgodslaying-blog]

something about scouting, the boy had said, Izayoi hadn’t really been paying attention, he just knew that he had to follow.  it wasn’t so bad though, he had something to do.  It was still a shame the war was far off, he would have rather been fighting someone right now.

he followed the master up to the two people that he’d clearly known, and listened to them talk for a second, not exactly a fun scenario, but he’d probably have to see a lot of these people, so he figured he’d introduce himself, but before he could leave spirit form he felt the mana in the area spike, another servant, and an uncontracted one from the looks of things.

this could be the chance he was waiting for, a blade pointed at his master. the moderators couldn’t fault him for what would happen next.  it was self defense right?

in a flash, he materialized, placing himself in front of the man.

"oi, oi, you don’t think that a contracted master would just go out unprotected right?" he grinned, pointing his fist at the man in front of him, he didn’t look like much, didn’t feel like much either, but looks could be deceiving. it was possible that this man was simply concealing his own precesnce.

"but I suppose if you’re looking for a fight," he chuckled, "I’d be happy to oblige."

[delerametum]

Nanami gave Mahiro a look which seemed to be a cross between an indignant pout and an astonished expression before latching onto Shidou's arm and pointing up at the cocky blonde. "Now wait just a second here! SHIDOU?! What's the meaning of this?" Shidou didn't tell her that Mahiro and him was on a first name basis already. Were they really that close?

To anyone passing by only to see this display before their eyes, (and especially to yaoi fangirls watching this crossover from the comforts of their TV screen) Nanami was acting like the clingy, jealous girlfriend, with Mahiro being the other woman.

Unfortunately, this tale is not of dramatic love triangles nor is it a romantic comedy. Appearances aside, this is a fantasy and a tragedy, encompassed by winds of conspiracy and deceit. As such, the reason for Nanami's outburst and Mahiro's query, was eons apart from what said fangirls expect them to be. But enough of that. There was still another matter to be dealt with.

Nanami lets go of her hold on Shidou's arm and crosses her arms across her chest, raising a brow at the sudden appearance of Mahiro's servant. "Hey. Mister High School Student Servant with the mean looking eyes. Are you really serious about duking it out with this gentleman here? Innocents are going to be involved."

She jerks a thumb at the children running around happily just a few meters away. She then directed her gaze at the polished man, an amused smile gracing her features upon seeing the TIME magazine. His visage alone suggests that he did not seem as eager to start a fight, but she asked all the same."...you're not possibly thinking the same thing are you?"