『The Man in Grey』

Indie Selective Avenger Antonio Salieri from Fate/Grand Order. by Kubo

[eightfoldblessings]

@diexirae requested a fox's company.

☀ : It is... actually, what time was it? When thought is given to how this ship goes around and travels about, the sense of what time was is hard to pin down. But really, that's splitting hairs and beside the point. Fox was trying to get some sleep but a certain neighbor was being rather inconsiderate. So she finds herself at his door. Thoroughly, knocking. And knocking. And knocking.

[diexirae]

He couldn't stop playing today. It was just like that time in Russia, when he took the mantle of Amadeus Alter, the impostor of the one he will kill, in order to keep the Terrible in slumber.

Whenever he did this, it was almost as he felt close to that man. Close to his neck, whose fate was his to crush, his flesh to stab, his blood to boil. That was his only raison d' etre.

Until a certain vixen perturbed his unholy requiem.

"..." the garment of Amadeus Alter dissolved into the air, leaving only a greyed man adjusting his tie. After his rhythm was broken this way, he had no choice but to check and open the door, meeting an outrageous looking fox in the wake of its opening.

"What brings a maiden alone here? Would Master approve of this?"

[diexirae]

ardensfides​:

At that, she sighs.

As expected of an Avenger, Tessa cannot help thinking to herself–But it was a matter that she had long grown accustomed to. She does not have long to dwell on that, however, not when he reaches a hand to touch her cheeks so. At first, there is an inevitable half-flinch, before a stern inward reminder that Salieri would not hurt her.

And, that if he intended to–He already would have. Servants could easily dwarf a mage like herself.

“….!”

Biting the inside of her mouth in an attempt to keep herself focused on playing, Tessa’s fingers continue to dance along the keys even if her cheeks only continue to grow darker and darker. She can hear that hint of a laugh in his low baritone, it’s maddening.

“–Please refrain from teasing me, particularly when I’m trying to play this piece for you.”

He smirked, sliding his fingers off her face to let her breath, straightning himself up to listen to her play her heart out.

This was all a divine comedy he was finding delicious. In fact, it was the first time he was feeling something close to pleasure since his summoning.

"Beautiful"

[diexirae]

ardensfides​:

“That’s–”

It’s a painful jab, but the words ring true nonetheless. If it happened to pertain to some sore spots, namely points regarding herself that she really did her utmost to pretend didn’t exist…But even so, the way he says it’s a ‘surface level observation’ makes her inwardly want to hold her head in her hands.

“…It’s that obvious?”

"If even I can realize it... it makes me wonder how exactly have you come so far, considering how long you have been at this quest even before my summoning. How do you think that is? Mere luck?"

[diexirae]

ardensfides​:

A chill runs down her spine hearing that laugh of his, due in part to tone, but also just the feelings behind it. She’s well-aware of the nature of an Avenger, of the rage and hatred that can never be fully swallowed down–And yet she is able to hear more than simply that as she continues to play, her cheeks tinting very slightly hearing his words.

Still, unlike the last time–Though Tessa certainly feels flustered, she’s not stopping the piece this time, half-lost in the music.

“–I’m still a mage first and foremost, Avenger; I’d hardly call myself a maiden considering what blood flows through my veins.”

If anything, she was closer to a phantasmal beast–It was a fact she’s been well-aware of for quite some time now, moreso since this was in part why the Arderes tolerated her existence. More importantlly, though her tone is somewhat clipped; She hasn’t denied it, either.

"Unless it is about boiling his blood, I do not care for it."

He touched her cheeks, examining them, noticing the color on them. "Yes, that is the skin of a maiden, even I know of this color."

He sounded ready to laugh. Indeed, it almost felt like a bad farse, was it just that he found funny the idea of distracting the one who was supposed to save Proper Human History like this? Maybe he was seeing this as the biggest affront to God he could commit, right next to killing that man.

[ardensfides]

@diexirae​ liked for a Valentine’s Day starter

There’s some a sense of nervousness gnawing at the mage’s nerves, but regardless; She has stated quite clearly to Avenger that she wishes for him to meet her in the music room. Once he has arrived, Tessa seats herself at the piano bench as she had before when he had called her out on her personal feelings through her music.

“–I…was not certain if you would enjoy chocolate, so I felt that this would be more appropriate. I hope that you like it.”

Carefully slipping her gloves off and setting them to the side, the woman’s fingers dance across the keys to play a piece.

[diexirae]

Indeed, chocolate would probably not be the best gift for an Avenger such as this one. He would find it plebeian, and it would task like ash to him regardless of its quality.

Music was the one thing that had any hopes of reaching him. As he stood there, expecting her to give him orders, he received the notes into himself.

Oh, she had gotten better at it, he could tell that quickly from a purely objective standpoint, the expected standpoint for a dead man like Salieri to be in.

"...That." a strange sensation came to him. There was more to it, this music wasn't ordinary. I wasn't music played just for the sake of playing, or even music played for the sake of burning like the only one he could produce now. No... this was something he must have forgotten, if ever witnessed.

He couldn't avoid himself grinning like he was laughing at tragedy. "A maiden has really fallen for her burning sword of killing?"

[diexirae]

ardensfides​:

“Not–at all–”

Not that she sounds all that convincing when she’s wheezing and trying to recover from that unintentional blow to a weak point. Tessa had been certain she had been completely subtle in asking him to come with her, she’d been casual and everything too! Or…was that the problem? Considering she’s always been a formal person, perhaps–

I’m overthinking it. I’m overthinking it…!

“I see.”

Exhaling a little, there’s some relief in knowing that the Avenger didn’t completely loathe being here, else she’d at least try to see if there was a way he wouldn’t have to participate….Though her feelings of security are spectacularly blown away as the composer leans in so that she can hear his voice quite clearly in her ear.

“I-I–suppose, so–? Archer said it becomes quite cold up in the mountains of Japan, s-so–”

Am I really overthinking it though?!

His smile seems to twist, how tempted he was becoming right now by the pure maiden acting like this. The brave hero, losing all that composure by the mere presence of the man she had requested to be present.

"Nothing a little flame wouldn't resolve. I would set fire to the whole village if it meant Master wouldn't stay cold during the night."

Closer and closer, he was like a beast ready to devour her on the spot.

[diexirae]

ardensfides​:

Taking a sip from the drink concocted by one of the Casters (Paracelsus was quite the talented barista, she’d found)–His words, though she doubts that he was actually serious–Tessa’s cocktail ends up going down the wrong way in surprise.

Cough, cough…!

Even if she didn’t say something, well–Her cheeks were a little too red to be sunburn, moreso when she’s been carefully remaining in the shade and applying sunscreen when needed.

"Did I easily touch something? Well, not like it is difficult, when it comes to you that is..." now his look seemed a bit more amused, devilishly so. "Seems like I didn't make a mistake by coming here after all."

He leans towards her, "and the shack does like quite appealing for a warm night."

[ardensfides]

@diexirae​ liked for a summer starter 

Adjusting the tie on this ‘scout’ outfit, her swimsuit beneath it–Tessa’s resting in the shade and struggling to keep her eyes open after having failed to get any sleep the night before. Really, this Singularity was bad for her health. Glancing towards the other accompanying her under the parasol set up by the lake’s shoreline, she’s speaking as quietly as ever.

“Avenger, are you holding up well? I apologize for it being so bright out here, but…”

…Well, for as much as she’d like to allow him to roam as he likes in the evening–The first evening has already proven how dangerous it was at night.

[diexirae]

He stood arms crossed behind her, keeping to the shadows with his eyes by round shades, with his grey hair, and red shirt, one would easily mix him up with a vampire.

He groans imperceptibly to the Master's question at first, before clearing up his throat to correct his behavior.

"Could be worse, I still don't know why you wanted someone like me here... could it be you just couldn't  bear to be away from me for long?”

[diexirae]

like for an ask

[diexirae]

ardensfides​:

“I see.”

For as much as she’d like to judge, well…She’d found out the hard way that she was hardly any different, the adrenaline rush of combat had its effect on her when she joined the field on occasion, or sparred particularly brutally with another back in Chaldea. 

“–Let’s investigate the next area, I think the Casters needed materials from beasts there.”

"Very well, I will follow you until you obtain what you seek" in a very buttler-like manner, he stood beside her so she could lead the way. His expression was still so deranged, and he wasn't going back to his spiritual form so soon as he still yearned for more.

[diexirae]

ardensfides​:

“Please, there’s no need to bow to someone like myself.”

Doing her best not to clench her fists, or to remind herself that she was standing here in safety whilst the others fought in her stead, taking wounds that should be her own. It stung her pride, and made her feel more helpless than anything, that she should do more than just this.

“Are you unharmed?”

"There is no wound that could bother me..." he responded, his eyes wide open, the fire of battle still running through him. This is still quite a new high for him, as a man who never fought like this in battle.

"Where shall we go next?"

[diexirae]

ardensfides​:

Inevitably, upon hearing that piercing observation that cut straight through her carefully crafted walls on account of a few notes revealing her nature–Tessa’s playing came to an abrupt, and unpleasant halt that resulted in a momentary dissonance from the keys accidentally pressed. Her blood turned to ice for a time, dull cerulean eyes fixed on the piano as if her life depended upon it while her jaw locked and her lips pressed into a thin line.

“….”

Her throat felt tight, far too constricted for her to speak. Even if it’s a lie, the woman forces herself to shake her head no.

"Do you just freeze at hearing words? Do I take it that you recognize them as the truth? Interesting..."

He awaited for her to pull herself together. It was her job as a Master to do that, as she had done time and time again until down.

"You have felled gods already, don't be defeat by such a surface level observation."

[diexirae]

ardensfides​:

“I’d hardly call your work as well as your ability to play ‘mediocre’, Avenger.”

Still, it’s hardly her place to judge, isn’t it? Inhaling softly, recalling her muscle memory and the notes that compose the piece–Her fingers started out stiffly, but gradually slipped into dancing across the white keys. Cerulean eyes closed in concentration as she recalled the song that she knew by heart

He stood there, hearing not the [what] but the [how] of the Master’s notes. Somewhere between those sounds was her heart, something he would like to discern.

“Are you afraid of breaking the things you love?”

[diexirae]

ardensfides​:

“Wh–No, it’s nothing like that.”

There’s something of a scoff to her words, though in truth–He’s not entirely wrong. To lay herself so bare, it was….a bit intimate, or at least she believed so. It was already bad enough that her eyes gave her away, but her sound?

She didn’t want to think about how raw it might be. What’s left of it, anyway. After a moment, sighing a little deeply as she is reminded of piano lessons back in the Ardere household–Tessa finally seats herself, gloved fingers resting against the pristine white keys.

“….I’m just going to warn you again–I haven’t played in a long time. It may sound terrible.”

"Your technical proficiency is what least matters to me, or I wouldn't be the king of mediocrity." he did call himself that, at least, somewhere... or maybe it was something of a fake memory.

In any case, what he was looking for... was something else.

[diexirae]

ardensfides​:

“….”

Scarlet stained the ground beside her, just narrowly missing her and leaving her pristinely in her suit as per usual. Blonde hair wafting in the brief bout of wind that had been produced by the sharp movement, cerulean eyes were half-lidded, and quite doll.

–Demon? I’m the demon here, sending them out to do things like this.

“–That’s enough, Avenger. Come back.”

"..." so it was to be over already... no matter, he was but a Servant, and so he had to right to be enjoying this.

Carefully he straightened his posture, and his demonic-looking garment vanished into magical energy as he walked back beside his master, looking nothing like a fearsome demon that would be the subject of scary stories, but a proper suited gentleman.

As if to contrast even further, he took upon himself to bow at this Master.

[diexirae]

ardensfides​:

Just as she moves to apply a bit of pressure, to play a single note–A low voice, a husky drawl that sends something of a shiver down her spine catches her attention as her head snaps up with surprise painted across her normally composed features.

“Ah, Avenger–”

She’d thought she might run into Mozart here perhaps, but Salieri–No, now that she thinks about it? It would be appropriate to see him here as well. Bringing a hand up to her mouth, she halts in her ministrations with something of an embarrassed tint.

“Honestly, I don’t think what I do is anywhere near such an intricate and well-written piece…”

Rubbing the back of her neck as her back straightens, Tessa glances off to the side.

“I….haven’t played in a long time, it was a bit of a reflex.”

An interesthing reaction, "are you ashamed? If something of a soul remains on you, do you fear expressing it through the keys of the piano?"

He got closer, sternly looking at her like an exigent teacher, even going so far as to pull the chair of the piano so that his Master could sit "do it, I want to hear how your soul sounds at this moment..."

[diexirae]

@ardensfides​ x Starter Call

His claws lacerated the flesh of demonic monsters, yet, clad in his demonic looking cloth, could one distinguish who was really demon or heroic spirit?

A splash of blood dropped right beside the Master, as the Servant stopped with rugged breath under his garment, "Is this, what you desire of me, Master?"