divided;

"Hatred will never be erased! All you can do.. is erase the ones you hate!"

[kazejotei-deactivated20130708]

Once again her mind was brought back to the present and their current state of affairs was no on her mind as well.  He brought up such a question that confused her at first as she thought they weren’t allowed to disclose such information to others? But she caught on to what he meant soon enough.

A small rather sad smile appeared on her face in the darkness of the night that surrounded them.  ”I’d rather you meet him, actually. He seems like a fine servant.” She turned to look behind her briefly and called out.

“Lancer, please come and meet my brother, Hakuryuu.”

[the-rage-of-diarmuid-blog]

“Milady.”

The call was met with his response almost instantly, having been close to the scene as it transpired. Descending from could be assumed to be a massive leap, the servant landed upon the heels of his master, head bowed at her side, his noble phantasms held his hands, strong and unwavering. His stature held nothing but the purest loyalty to his lord.

However, as he is head rose, it became clear that he was hardly in the mood to shoot the breeze with the other one, the grip upon his weapons taut and prepared for the slightest inclination of combat. The only reason he held his ground and kept from engaging the poor fool in combat, was his relation to his master keeping him in check. Otherwise…

“I am the Lancer servant, Diarmuid O’Dyna.”

[odiumryuu-blog]

Hakuryuu hadn't intended for his sister to call for her servant, especially in so casually a manner that she would reveal his name to him, but he supposed there was nothing to fear so long as she was present. The prince rather benefited from being able to see the Lancer firsthand-- to be able to judge and see if his only family was in capable hands.

However, the quick entrance startled him somewhat, his grip instinctively tightening around his spear before he could take a moment to gather himself. Heterochromic eyes narrowed once the other's expression was evident, his tone lowering almost as if in suspicion. Regardless, formalities were not forgotten; he bowed briefly, his words polite.

"A pleasure."

"Forgive me, I did not intend to take up your time."

It was unnerving to think the prince had been so consumed with persuading Hakuei that he had failed to notice that her servant had been nearby. Particularly considering his conversation with her was one he did not care to have overheard. 

[kazejotei-deactivated20130708]

There was an increasing tide of fear rising in her stomach that would not be quelled no matter what she told herself.  She knew that Hakuryuu was a capable young man but she couldn’t get over the fact that he had been changed and she feared he was going down the wrong path. But was it her job or duty to correct it? How could she even be sure what was right for him?

He seemed to be calming down but she still had a terrified look on her face. It was a painful one that filled her eyes and choked the very breath out of her. She could be as confident as she could like in front of her troops but if anything happened to Hakuryuu….

Slowly she collected herself as she forced herself to look away and take a deep breath. One thing at a time. “I do not want to fight you, Hakuryuu. Not ever. I just want you safe…that’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

[odiumryuu-blog]

It had come to the point where he was now causing her pain. Taking a small step back, he watched as his sister could no longer face him. It dawned on him that he could apologize for his outburst, yet.. he felt that he should not. Or rather, that he was not obliged to. Everything he said until now was how he truly felt.

Hearing her genuine words filled with emotion made his heart hurt, the urge to cry returning but forcefully suppressed for the time being.

"Hakuei.. who is your servant?"

It was he or she whom Hakuryuu would have to avoid attacking or provoking, afterall. Even if his sister's servant wished to be rid of him, there were command seals to consider; hopefully this person would understand their situation and behave appropriately. The prince only wanted to help what was left of his family.

[odiumryuu-blog]

neverending .

Hakuryuu had been summoned-- again.

A young, blonde girl with a sadistic smile and a suspicious nature had claimed him as her servant, despite him having no knowledge of what had happened to his previous master. He had assumed the only way to be switched to another master was for the pair to lose their lives or use up all three command spells but that had not been the case. The very thought was ridiculous; the prince had never left the side of his former lady, not even once. In the short time that they had been together, he had vowed to protect her and had not been forced to do a single thing against his will.

Could the broken Grail have decided that he and his new master-- Alice-- were a better pair and therefore split apart his previous contract? It seemed impossible, yet here he was, bound to a newfound fate. Perhaps it was Alice who knew some secret and somehow manipulated it for her own gain-- but he could not be certain. Add to the fact that her character was questionably childish, and all he truly understood was that he was now responsible for her, left only with random conjectures as to how he was stuck in this situation once more.

Nevertheless, Hakuryuu could not help but wonder what became of Lady Celes. Under the guise that he was out memorizing their surroundings (which, admittedly  wasn't entirely false) he kept an open eye for her, following along the city's sidewalks as to not lose his way. It occurred to him as he was walking that he also needed to do something to get on his master's good side, and thought about the idea of getting her a gift. Unfortunately, he hadn't the slightest idea what her interests were, leading him to ponder aloud-- loud enough to sound as if he was asking the person standing beside him.

"What do girls like...?"

[aleatorem-blog]

♦ first game.

[aleatorem-blog]

Celes smiled. ” I am relieved, then. I suppose I got lucky, for a moment I was worried I’d be made to starve! “ She was joking of course, though she was glad that he could cook. It wasn’t that she was lazy, it was just … she’d rather have someone cook for her. After all, she wasn’t one much suited to labour.

To answer his question, the gambler giggled. ” Of course. Although for now, I will leave up to you whatever it is you wish to make. I’ll place my trust in your taste of food! Ah, although, I do enjoy drinking milk tea on a frequent basis. “ And remembering a certain Yamada’s mistake long ago, she added; ” Ah, please do make sure it is royal milk tea, if you’d be so kind. “ She was a picky eater.

Finally taking a step, the girl would walk in the direction of the rooms, expecting him to follow. Leading him down a small hallway, which wasn’t all that spacious (it was still an apartment, after all), they would come to a stop, Celes motioning to the two doors on their own respective sides of the hall, straight across from each other. ” This is my room, “ she would continue, pointing to the door to their left. And to their right, she would walk into the remaining one, showing the big, empty room. In it was a decent-sized closet, a queen-sized bed, and even a window complete with blue curtains seemingly made from satin.

One would think this were a room for someone other than a servant, but alas, ” This room from now on belongs to you. Arrange it and use it as you see fit. “ A bathroom was at the end of the hall, not too big, but not too small, either. A size that was just right.

Just as Celes had gotten lucky with a Servant that could cook well, Hakuryuu had gotten lucky with a wealthy Master as well, able to live in comfort when they weren’t in a battle and whatnot.

” Ah, one last thing. “ Turning to Hakuryuu, Celes would smile at him, fingers crossed over each other and resting against the front of her dress.

“ I will grant you one wish. But of course, it has to be something within reason and within my power. I cannot do anything beyond human boundaries, and I reserve the right to refuse at the beginning. Ah, I suppose it is more of a request rather than a wish? Anyway; I will either give an immediate answer or give some thought depending on what it may be. Please think it through carefully. “ After all, it was much better to ‘get along’ well with her partner who’d she assumed would be with for a while rather than just being.. well, there.

[odiumryuu-blog]

It appeared she was slightly more picky than she was letting on, perhaps just to be polite. "Duly noted." he responded with a nod, eyes glancing momentarily to the kitchen he had to work with before he turned to see her walking off. With a blink, he trailed after her, assuming she was going to give a small tour.

The narrow doorways they traveled through were to be expected but still made the prince somewhat uncomfortable. As soon as they arrived to what she deemed as his room, he stepped inside almost immediately. The bedroom was sufficient enough, he thought, taking notice of the satin curtains-- a material that was still uncommon and expensive in his time. The modern furniture presented looked comfortable enough, so much so that he silently thought to himself why he was getting this room if he was but a servant. Her graciousness surprised him.

She spoke again before he could voice his concern though, so he obediently faced her. Closing his eyes briefly as she began to explain her idea, his demeanor slightly changed. 

One request.

Hakuryuu pondered just what he could use such a thing for. If she reserved the right to reject it from the beginning, then it was hardly helpful unless she happened to be in a giving mood at the time. But he had to take into consideration that was attempting to be cooperative; it would be unproductive to point out flaws.

Having some difficulties shaking formalities on their first meeting, he bowed in thanks. However, in his next few words there was a subtle change in his tone, a soft, almost unnoticeable spite on his tongue. Something about the way she smiled so gently but so confidently led him to feel doubtful of her intentions.

"Thank you, Lady Celes."

"I will be sure to take advantage of the opportunity."

[kazejotei-deactivated20130708]

His rage was something so palpable that it nearly choked her.  It was becoming increasingly harder to breath the more upset he got.  Where had her little Hakuryuu gone? Just what had happened to him when he was in Sindria?

“Lord Kouen was not the one to have done this to our family.  If it is as you say then…then it was Mother.  Lord Kouen, Lady Kougyoku—they have nothing to do with this!” This was something she would stand by at the very least.  They had were harmless victims in their parent’s games much like she and Hakuryuu were.  He was fighting to find someone to blame, some more to blame for his bottomless rage.

“Hakuryuu, what has happened to you…?”  His hands may not have been on her but she could feel his hatred and need for revenge and feared what it would mean for him.  She did not see it as a strength so much as it was a weakness.  Who would he fall prey to now? “We can ask for help. This is a problem too large for any of us and it always possible to ask for aid from our friends.”

[odiumryuu-blog]

It was true that their cousins did not play a hand in the division of their family, but they could not necessarily be disregarded as 'harmless' either. Kouen's idea of being king of the world was not to be dismissed, even if Al-Sarmen was the more prominent threat. 

Hakuryuu paused when his sister finished speaking, recollecting what allies he had to aid him, and when last he saw them. He had once asked Aladdin if he would be on his side in the case of war, but the magi did not favor the idea of fighting, much like Hakuei; Morgiana had rejected his confession, although the prince didn't really wish to get her involved regardless; Alibaba he had left on a rather sour note, leaving without so much as a goodbye; and then there was Sinbad, who had supposedly agreed to assist him, but there was truly no way of knowing for sure.

The only other person who had offered assistance was... Judal.

"..."

The prince fell silent, unsure if he should be informing his sister of everything that had happened to him. At the very least, he was able to take a moment to calm himself.

[kazejotei-deactivated20130708]

It wasn’t that she was afraid of her little brother…it was more that she was unsure of what he was capable of. The thought of no longer knowing just who her little Hakuryuu had become was what was truly scary for her.  Though perhaps in the far reaches of her mind she was a little scared of him; maybe someday he would turn on her, too.  His conviction seemed so strong and she had been so unaware of it for years.

Her eyes widened in anxiety as his grip tightened on her and she instinctively leaned back and away from him.

“It’s a dream worth pursuing! A world united and peaceful, where we can tend to the sick and make everyone that we can happy.” She wasn’t prepared to fight against her brother, at least not yet.  They had already lost their older brothers and their father. Would Hakuryuu really bring this to a violent level?

“Working together is the only way we can achieve this!”

[odiumryuu-blog]

He could never hate his sister. With that said, he did not wish to turn against her,  but he could not get himself to agree with her, either. His gaze turned downwards as she pulled away from him, a tinge of loneliness suddenly stabbing at his heart. 

It was precisely because they had lost their father and brothers that he wanted to be rid of the evil behind it all. Couldn't she see that a wish used for vengeance would ultimately benefit everyone? He could not guarantee her safety so long as that organization thrived. Their own mother had even threatened Hakuei's life, as if it was of little value!

"You would try to work together with those people?"

"The very people who divided our family-!?" There was nothing to be gained from that! However pure his sister was, she had to see that corruption could only be eliminated in one way.

"Besides that, what do you plan for those who refuse? A united world is selfish! And without war, you cannot even obtain it!"

[kazejotei-deactivated20130708]

That’s right, she hadn’t told him her wish yet.  She grabbed his hands strongly with hers which even now were the same size.  He would grow up to be a strong boy even still and she couldn’t stand the idea of him dying.

“My wish for the Grail is to eliminate all war. This is what I will ask of it.” It seemed silly to participate in a war to get rid of war but she would hold to her ideals all throughout.  Things would become complicated, though.

“I accept that we will be in this war together but please try not to do anything too hasty!” Hakuei didn’t think there was anything she could do to get through to him and now she felt as if she needed to watch over him even more than usual.  She wanted to understand his need for revenge but as of yet she could not grasp an understanding of it.

[odiumryuu-blog]

Hakuryuu froze.

Suddenly, his motivation to be cooperative began to diminish once his sister had stated her wish. Despite her best intentions, the prince could not help but to grow angry.

"A war to end all wars?" His patience wore thin when it came to idealistic thoughts; war was necessary, and he would not fool himself into thinking otherwise. His hands slowly returned her hold, however his grip was far stronger, almost to a painful degree.

"You-- you still believe in creating a united world?"

"It's impossible! That's nothing but a dream!"

[aleatorem-blog]

♦ first game. { summoning;closed }

[aleatorem-blog]

There wasn’t much to defend about those crimson hues of hers — heck, they may even be coloured lenses or something. But maybe he’d be glad to know that those ebony strands of hers were merely a wig. (Well, at least, the two large, twirly pigtails certainly were.)

For now, he wouldn’t have to worry about how he presented himself, as it was understandable that such a change would take time to adjust to. Celes herself was still only getting used to it now, but once a decent amount of time had passed and even herself had gotten used to everything by then, she’d expect her servant to be the same; mistakes were tolerable, though he should come to learn that the gambler’s patience with these kinds of things did not last for very long at all.

” Well then, I look forward to working with you, Hakuryuu. “ Dropped formalities already — not that she cared much for them right now, she was the master here. Although her facial features would show none of that, presenting herself only with an air of elegance. Of course she addressed him with his true name now, but it needn’t be said that when they weren’t in the privacy of such a luxurious apartment, she would address him as Lancer.

“ Ah, “ she had weighed this around in her mind, but stubbornly came to a decision. “ If you deem ‘Celestia’ to be a mouthful, feel free to call me Celes for short, if you like. I do not mind either way. “

Her plans?

For the time being, he had no right to know. Or until she deemed it necessary, she may never tell him. It wasn’t much of his business after all, and servants only aided the masters’ way to the Grail. The Holy Grail would never grant the wish of a servant.

Now, time to get to business — of course, without jumping straight into the main course. ” As you can see, I have rented us this grandeur living space. There are two separate rooms, and I have already occupied one of them. You may take the other. It is quite comfortable, in my opinion! Servant or not, you still deserve a comfortable resting area, no? And ah, I do hope you know how to cook. I can manage a few dishes myself, but while this is a war about fighting, I doubt we would survive very long on an empty stomach. Things seem to be fairly calm right now, so do take this time to adjust and make yourself comfortable here. ”

[odiumryuu-blog]

The color scheme only served to remind him of one whom he'd rather not be reminded of, that is all.

The dropped formality was only to be expected, he noted. She had the privilege to say whatever it was she liked, being the master. It was nothing shocking to the prince who was already accustomed to the royal hierarchy of his time. Her giving him the choice to use a nickname however, was a bit of a surprise. Would it be insulting to use it, therefore implying that her actual name was a 'mouthful'? Hakuryuu began to overthink the situation a bit before settling on a middle ground.

"Very well, Lady Celes."

If she were to say that he didn't deserve to know her plans aloud, he would have most certainly voiced a counterargument. However, his situation was a bit different in that he did not feel as motivated to help her win as much as he had feigned to. If he knows not what he is even fighting for, then he has less reason to place his trust in the one with three absolute commands over him. In fact, he rather detested that it was not him who could have his wish granted.

But he would still protect her, for it was this responsibility that had been bestowed upon him, and he would not fail.

"Ah, don't worry." he began, his tone now a bit more casual. Fortunately, Hakuryuu was quite the chef. "I'm sure I can work with whatever is available."

"Do you have any preferences?"

[kazejotei-deactivated20130708]

Ah, that. She still wasn’t sure what to make of that but she hoped, truly hoped, that Kouen would not take part in the war either.  Or any of her family members. War in itself gave her a sour taste in her mouth.  His final statement even more so.

“Hakuryuu, you should value yourself more than that!” Why couldn’t he see that losing him would be painful for her? That all of this was painful for the both of them.  Thinking about it squeezed at her heart tightly.  Now if anything she needed to win just to ensure his safety.

“Please…please. Value yourself more than that.”

[odiumryuu-blog]

Ah, he should have anticipated that such a bold way of saying things would have a negative effect on his sister. Drawing in a breath, he tried once more, this time with a less stressed, calmer approach.

"If I can help you grant that wish, then I will be satisfied." 

"I want to protect you until there is no one left standing but you and I." He was completely dismissing his own master's wish, not to mention not taking into consideration what Hakuei's actual servant thought of the situation. It was selfish, but-- there really was nothing more selfish than war.

"Can't you see we must take advantage of this opportunity-?!" 

[kazejotei-deactivated20130708]

These words pained her because she knew exactly what it meant.  It meant they were enemies. But would she really let it be that way?

….No.

A little blue haired boy with a flute would have said that it made no difference.

“You are still my Hakuryuu, my brother.” Although she had seemed distressed her face fell into a small smile. “A war won’t change that.”

[odiumryuu-blog]

How his sister could still place a small smile on her face was beyond him. Just thinking that there was a possibility he could be reduced to fight the one person he sought to protect nearly drove him to tears. But his expression conveyed none of that; instead, his eyes remained sharp, focused on the matter at hand.

"...Hakuei, it is said that a master's wish will be granted should they win this war."

"You have the power to shape a new future-- one without that witch and organization! If it was for that cause, I would willingly give my life!"

All for the sake of revenge.

[aleatorem-blog]

♦ first game. { summoning;closed }

[aleatorem-blog]

The little light show certainly piqued Celes’ interest. She watched, eyes curiously following the cards she had laid out. Her smile only widened at the card that showed itself to her, satisfied by the reaction, however unexpected. At the flash of light, an arm would raise itself to shield her eyes for a short moment, peeking out from over it once it seemed to die down. Crimson hues adjusted to the light and soon enough would she see the figure of her new Servant, arm falling to her side once more.

… He seemed strong. The clothes he wore gave her a slight idea of what time he had come from, and her gaze would linger on the scar on his face for a brief moment before moving on, giving him a good, long look, examining just about his every aspect, giving small nods in approval. She would inquire about that wooden arm of his sometime later.

A smile as her own fingers crossed over each other, she spoke in response to him. Although she already knew of his class, would it not be more proper for him to tell her on his own?

“ I’m counting on you. “

“ Now.. won’t you introduce yourself to me? “ Although it wasn’t necessary to tell Celes his true name unless he was fine with it, Celes didn’t mind either way – at least, not at the moment. Though, before she introduced herself to him, at the very least, she wanted him to introduce himself to her first. She cared not if he was of royal blood or not in his world – he was her Servant now. As soon as he told her of his Servant class, (and if he wanted to, his true name as well), Celes would respond in kind.

“ My name is Celestia Ludenberg. ”

“ Delighted to meet you. “

[odiumryuu-blog]

It was only natural that she would inquire his class along with his name, despite the former being rather obvious and the latter not absolutely necessary. The Kou Prince had his doubts; he could not very well trust someone he scarcely knew simply because they were now bound by contract. Surely, she could prove herself somehow, even unintentionally. Perhaps it was the crimson hues and dark, black hair that unnerved him slightly, even if he knew better than to let his first judgment rest solely on appearance. Regardless, they would need to cooperate to survive-- nevermind win-- the war, therefore he supposed revealing his name would not do him much harm if he were to assume his master was wise with words.

"Forgive me for not introducing myself properly." Admittedly, his tone could have been a bit more enthusiastic, but the rush of information and sudden change in scenery did take a toll on him-- in the form of a throbbing headache. Still, he made his best effort into putting on a pleasant expression. 

"I am Hakuryuu Ren, of the Lancer class."

"The pleasure is all mine, Master Celestia."

At the very least, it was not hard to maintain a level of politeness. It was unfortunate that the warrior had difficulties maintaining a positive outlook, however. Although he wanted to ask about his master's plans concerning the future and her wish, he did not feel now was an appropriate time. All traces of curiosity and skepticism hidden away during their first impressions.

[kazejotei-deactivated20130708]

odiumryuu started following you

“Haku…ryuu….” No. No! He couldn’t be participating in this horrible war!

[odiumryuu-blog]

Eyes widened in a moment of shock, before a regretful sigh escaped his lips. "To think.. even you have been forced to participate..."

"My sister, I.. I've been summoned.. as a servant." 

They were not the same; the command seals on her hand allowed him to reach that single, solid conclusion. "As glad as I am to see you unharmed, I.. fret for the worst."

[aleatorem-blog]

♦ first game. { summoning;closed }

Upon arrival, the gambler had acquired an apartment of her own. With the amounts of money that she had won herself from gambling taken from her bank account, (which, luckily, was accessible for some reason even here), she was able to afford quite a grand apartment, complete with a balcony and big, shiny kitchen, and even two big, separate rooms. And of course, the living room was big and spacious, with a decent-sized glass table right in the center.

As of right now, said glass table was lined with cards. Of course, even if all the information had made itself welcome right inside of her head, that didn’t mean she immediately comprehended with all of it. With what knowledge she had, she would just have to make do with whatever she could think of. Anything would work, right? So with that, Celestia would just improvise using whatever she had handy, or whatever she found in stores that suited her tastes.

So of course, the table would be filled with all sorts of things that one would find in a casino, placed in a circular shape. Some playing cards there, some chess pieces there — if someone else were to walk in and take a look at what she had there, it wouldn’t be all that hard to tell that this was something being performed by someone that regularly visited a casino or something of the sort.

Finally satisfied with what she had, Celestia would smile at her work, one hand placed on her hip while the other hung loosely at her side. She couldn’t help but giggle. It was like a video game that had become a reality. 

Ah, but let’s keep this short and simple, shall we? She so wanted to meet this Servant of hers as soon as possible.

” Come forth, oh mighty warrior, heed my call and present yourself to me. “

“ You who will cut me a path to this Holy Grail, you who will fight by my side, as my knight … I summon thee! “

[odiumryuu-blog]

Following the incantation, the assorted objects placed atop the glass table would begin to glow in a mystical light, the cards slowly levitating as if they had suddenly gained their own will. Amidst the circle of cards, one in particular would separate from the others, raising above the rest long enough to be identified-- the king of spades.

Almost instantly it would begin to spin, accelerating to unnatural speeds as the previous glow of the cards would shine bright enough to temporarily blind the young girl's sight. Left in its wake would be a young warrior kneeling with one hand clasped against one of wood, all in a manner of respect. The gaze towards his newfound master would reveal sharpened eyes along with the burn mark that claimed half his face, exposing a past that was all too familiar with the burdens of war.

Any doubt of the situation was quickly eliminated thanks to the knowledge he had been imparted with in a matter of seconds. His memories were still retained however, leaving the prince rather reluctant to serve as a servant. The plans he had for his own world were to be put on hold, he supposed, breathing in a sigh. But the idea of any wish being fulfilled certainly interested him. Perhaps there was some use in turning his spear against others he mused, if he can gain the one thing he sought the most in return.

He decided to formally acknowledge the other's presence first, understanding that she was the one in command of him.

"As your servant, I shall win you the war."

"..and the Holy Grail with it."

Stepping off the delicate table, he glanced quickly at his surroundings. It was oddly reminiscent of the wealth of the Kou Empire, only in a more modern sense. Despite what he was used to, Hakuryuu could see himself adjusting to his new living area, thankful of its vast space. Of course, his liberty was to be restrained by whatever personality his master had.