warm

Mikasa Ackerman RP blog Affiliated with Guerra Sacra

[astrerier]

-- crowned ; open

[astrerier]

When he hadn’t the privilege to examine other parts of the world besides the city they resided in, it left little motivation. Not to mention this universe was entirely separate from his own, whose status he had truer concerns over. With what knowledge is given through the Grail, he did have an unreal understanding of many aspects of this world already, even if not every technological detail. Regardless, his wanderings were generally conducted at night as he noted locations where blood could be afforded to be spilled, and so he sought downtime during the day.

His gaze shifted to meet with hers upon her declaration, still inwardly monitoring the professionalism she exercised. His smile lessened to match the seriousness of her tone but was not completely flattened as a result of her genuineness. 

It’s the topic of his wish that results in a moment of silence, eyes attempting to scan her intentions before lips parted to respond.

“Nothing." Yuri did not lead a life of securing personal gain. "I’ve thought about it— what I’d wish for— and it’s not something I can really leave up to some cup.”

Leaning back in his chair, he toyed with the balance of his weight, one foot secured beneath the table so that he may not fall back. “I don’t know what it’s capable of. I mean, I know what people say it can do, but it’s not like I’ve seen the thing in action.”

Perhaps he’d dishearten the master before him with his realism, but she deserved nothing less than his honest response. Pausing, he considered the possibility of the best-case scenario, understanding that the potential existed. “If it really can grant any wish, then I’ve got to consider what other guys would use it for. To keep it out of the wrong hands… that’s where I stand for now.”

That being said, the vigilante turned his stare towards the formal female.

“So, what do you want with it?”

[sharpensblades]

The appeal of an object that can grant any wish is almost too great. To have a single desire, no matter how impossible, be fulfilled in an instant is nothing short of a miracle. It's not a decision to take lightly, but to come to the conclusion of "nothing", Mikasa pauses to consider why it seems so strange to her. Meanwhile, the alarming bout of practicality in his response is equally as unexpected, but not entirely unbelievable. To put all of ones hopes in a cup that only a chosen few people have ever seen sounds foolish. But... surely this war contains people who have no choice but to depend on this kind of hope.

"...that's a very noble cause," she states in response to his hypothetical wish. Misuse of such a powerful object is a certain possibility. But Mikasa means neither to praise nor patronize his conclusion. It's simply an observation.

"And... I don't think you're wrong," she pauses, "about the Grail. Maybe it doesn't do as it's said to. But to win over everyone else, I think faith in its power is necessary to keep going. Someone who doesn't believe in what they're fighting for can't last long in a war like this." Almost as soon as the words leave her lips, the black haired female recoils slightly. "I didn't mean that you will fail, it's just... as a master, I need to believe in this power if I'm to risk my life for it." Her hands ball into uncomfortable fists. Maybe she's said too much. Nonetheless, she has a courteous obligation to answer his final question that mirrored what she'd asked of him. 

"As for what I want," she quickly continues, "it's recognition, acceptance..." Love, even if she isn't quite ready to say it out loud.

"I wish for a family that can give me these things." 

[sharpensblades]

Ackerwhatnow {Levi}

[ailes-de-liberte]

He’s having more fun than he should be. Weeks of limited human contact have left a pent-up annoyance that he needs out of his system, and the girl in front of him is his unfortunate victim. Her reactions are priceless. Her silent rage, her subtle lapses in control… she’s not doing anything to persuade him to improve his lacking manners. She probably could have spilled her coffee on a better person.

But it all changes when her face freezes, and he knows that he’s said something that doesn’t just strike a nerve, but stabs her right in the chest. He watches her carefully, biting the inside of his lip as she makes her revelation.

Shit.

“The coffee is one thing. But lying is worse. Far worse.” Levi’s eyes narrow dangerously, but try as he might, he sees no falseness in her. Her name is perhaps the most honest thing she’s said to him during their brief exchange. He whistles an annoyed breath through his teeth. “Maybe,” he grumbles, mostly to himself.

“I’m aware they aren’t all dead. I’m one of them. Levi Ackerman.” He closes his eyes for a brief moment, and when he speaks again, his voice is more saturated in sarcasm than his shirt is in coffee. “What a lucky day for us Ackerman’s. A family reunion. Just what we needed.”

[sharpensblades]

Her irritation no longer stems from petty anger. The further he insists she falsified her own name, the more Mikasa struggles to bite back some kind of insult she may regret. A moment of tense silence, and then a single word from the other man that she can only barely make out ebbs away at the tension. She can only loosen her jaw however, before he follows up with possibly one of the most ludicrous statements she could think of in this situation.

Levi Ackerman. This man... is an Ackerman? Her first instinct is to deny it. She'd suffered years upon years harboring the knowledge that all of her true family had been slaughtered; that she'd meet one on the street of all places is impossible--

But it only takes a moment to realize that this is the exact same impulse the man she'd rebuked must have had. To reaction in such a way now would be nothing but hypocritical. Yet to accept this truth...

"I was given to another household as a child; if you are an Ackerman... I suppose I wouldn't know." She can hardly recall her mother's face now, never mind anyone else. To put their situation in perspective would be the best.

[coefficiently]

stepping stone [open]

All he can think of is how he’s probably seen buildings with more stairs than this, but the fact that the Spanish Steps are completely empty makes it grand. It makes Ginoza wonder if Rome is empty, save for the quiet gurgling of the fountain at the foot of the staircase. One benefit of landing in Rome was probably the nooks and crannies that the city offered.

He knows why he’s here, which is why Ginoza’s cycling through potential vantage points in his head. It’s important to make himself as useful to his potential Master as possible, and it isn’t like Ginoza to wait around and be a sitting duck. The best he can do is explore the city and map it out in his head.

"Slightly north from the heart of the city, then," he muses to himself. Which, in hindsight, makes sense if he’d been heading north from the Trevi Fountain.

[sharpensblades]

Mikasa is no expert of Rome. In fact, she's hardly more privy to the city than a tourist. But spotting a man wandering the streets and glancing around curiously, the young master figures he's in need of assistance. If that's so, it would be rather heartless to ignore his plight and carry on as if she'd seen nothing. 

Therefore, she approaches him swiftly and utters a single question.

"Are you looking to get somewhere in particular?" She's not certain she can help, but she's willing to try regardless. Besides, if he is indeed searching for something, then it's only to her benefit to become more familiar with this battleground. 

[sharpensblades]

Ackerwhatnow {Levi}

[ailes-de-liberte]

Admittedly, Levi had been a bit harsher with his words than the girl was really deserving. But she had caught him without his caffeine and in preparation for a war he couldn’t afford to lose. He has not the time nor patience for a dry cleaner. Still, he doesn’t particularly want this to turn into an all-out brawl on the streets. The girl is not backing down. In fact, she’s doing quite the opposite, and Levi finds her absolute fury hard to miss.

So he does the grown-up thing. He gives her scarf a warning tug before releasing it, taking a step back and surveying the damage done to his clothing, hot breath whistling through clenched teeth.

“Even the most rudimentary magi know how to look where they’re going,” he retorts bitterly, shooting her a glare full of daggers. He loosens the cravat from his neck and begins to wring the hot liquid out, not being careful about avoiding the girl’s shoes as he did.

It’s pure chance that his gaze happens upon the dropped latte cup. Pure coincidence that he reflexively reads the sloppy sharpie-penned name on the side. Levi does a double take. He reads it again for a third time just to make sure.

“Ackerman,” he mutters to himself, feeling a strange sense of indignation swelling within. “Ackerman.” He repeats, looking the girl straight in the eye. “You need to pick a different alias, girl. Some might find it offensive that you’re using the name of a dead magus family as your own.” His voice is as cold and cutting as ice.

[sharpensblades]

It appears as if there's no pleasing this man. His attitude makes her grit her teeth, and Mikasa can already tell she can't stand him. Rather than respond to his provocation, she simply allows her irritation to smolder. After all, he releases her scarf as she'd requested, and busying her hands with readjusting it helps to cool her head. 

Just as she's prepared to apologize and be on her way, the dripping cloth that had previously been fit snugly against his neck is now being wrung out. With absolutely no regard of her feet as she's forced to step back to avoid dirtying her shoes. A marginally lesser consequence in comparison to an entire drink splashed on her clothes, but still. Accident differed from intentional carelessness. 

Opening her mouth to shoot some mild retort, Mikasa freezes as he begins reciting her name: Ackerman. His gaze locks with hers, and she takes care not to waver in the slightest. Until he utters the words "dead magus family". Her eyes widen, and a shadow falls on her face. How dare... 

"And others would correct you. They're not all dead." The meaning is clear. Officially, she takes a different name. But since long ago it's been one she's rejected; she is, only, and always will be Mikasa Ackerman.

"My name... is Mikasa Ackerman."

[astrerier]

-- crowned ; open

[astrerier]

A formal first impression, but perhaps that is mostly due to the fact her way of speaking is reminiscent to that of a certain commandant. Yuri’s interested, to say the least, just in knowing he managed to encounter someone whose aura is so familiar and yet not. Regardless, it may have been the aforementioned similarity that caused his faint smile.

“Never been to Rome, huh?" It’s clear as day that she’s a master, if not from the tellings of his otherworldly gift, then from how out of place she seemed to unintentionally make herself. "Me neither." He’s not even trying to make the conversation flow, instead resisting the urge to laugh into his crepe. Something about her stiffness just asked to be teased, and it was just the mood booster he could use.

Still, the matter at hand was nothing to joke about, even if the fighting was not to start for quite a while. For the time being, Yuri decided to be inviting while exercising the bluntness he was never one to refrain.

“You can sit, you know," He motioned vaguely to the seat across from him. "We both know why we’re really here." Things were much easier when neither side had much to hide.

With a casual dismissive wave, he continued to eat. “You look like you could relax a little." Maybe not the best advice for someone whose life was to be risked in an impending war, but the stakes were the same for everyone involved, and there was no sense in worrying so soon.

[sharpensblades]

In all honesty, Mikasa would have expected one to be the least bit interested in a location unknown to them. But perhaps that's only true for some, this man before her an exception. The only issue she could find in his response is... she's not certain how to respond. True, her upbringing didn't allow for much social interaction, but certainly this awkwardness isn't solely on her shoulders..

Nonetheless, basking in her own hesitation, Mikasa pauses once more as the seat across from the male is offered. Considering both of their circumstances, she sees no point in standing any longer. They have potentially much to discuss.

"I suppose you're correct." Slowly she pulls out the chair, before seating herself as professionally as possible. Grey eyes slide to the side, and although her expression may not betray her emotions, the uncertainty can surely be assumed in her silence.

"You look like you could relax a little."

For a moment Mikasa blinks up owlishly at the servant. Relax... the thought had never crossed her mind.

"This war is important to me," is what she immediately blurts out.  "I don't want to mess up..." In a time of peace, how she could possibly sit around after all? Relaxing, it appears she's too restless to even think of doing such a thing. But... it may not be a bad thing. Allowing her shoulders to relax slightly, the dark haired female then wracks her brain for some kind of casual topic to discuss. What does one talk about with a spirit of the dead? 

"...so what is it you wish to gain from this war?" Certainly, a safe topic. 

[sharpensblades]

Ackerwhatnow {Levi}

[ailes-de-liberte]

No matter what the circumstances, Levi never starts his day without his routine cup of coffee. At least, he doesn’t deviate from this routine during the month of peacetime. War will bring rations, something he is not looking forward to but accepts nonetheless. Such is the price of a wish, he supposes.

And in this month of reprise, the magus knows he should be focused on the more important things, like finding a Servant to contract or sources of prana to tap. But he just can’t seem to get over the fact that every cup of coffee he’s bought in Rome is absolute shit.

Today will be different, he tells himself when he wakes up, groggy and grumpy for lack of caffeine. But he doesn’t expect his morning cup to be dumped on him on the way to the café. For a moment, there is only shock as he stands in the middle of the street, clothes dripping steadily. Fury soon follows, and simple apologies just won’t cut it, especially when he can sense the prana flowing strong through her veins.

“If there’s one thing I can’t tolerate, it’s negligence. Especially from half-wit magi like you.” His voice is like the edge of a knife, and he grabs a fistful of the red scarf around her neck. “You’re paying for my clothes, you little shit.”

[sharpensblades]

It's common courtesy to expect politeness in return for providing likewise. Her apology had been admittedly lacking, but Mikasa had been genuine nonetheless and never too generous with words. One can't physically undo most mistakes, but they can certainly make up for it, and she is absolutely willing to do so.

Until the man makes a face, and snaps. His remarks cut like a blade, but Mikasa is less wounded rather than steadily feeling her adrenaline rising. Negligence... and a half-wit magi? Her face is twisted in both offense and shock, and then pure anger as her scarf is seized roughly by a merciless grip. But her rage is a quiet type, and only the furrow of her eyebrows and the sharpness in her gaze hint at her emotion. Her jaw is clenched, but she forces it to relax to speak.

"Please release my scarf, and refrain from making unnecessary assumptions regarding my skills as a mage." She hasn't come to terms with whether to heed his demand to pay for his shirt or not. Morally she is obligated, but currently his attitude makes her want to resist. Once she cools her mind, sense will override emotion for a clearer result.

[astrerier]

-- crowned ; open

Where gratitude should have flourished, skepticism appeared. 

The knowledge needed to prevent confusion of the modern world is gifted to him through otherworldly means but frankly isn’t enough to satisfy his other curiosities— namely the reason why the grail decided upon him of all people to materialize. More of a pessimist than an idealist, it’s perhaps the worse of his nature that prevents him from placing his entire faith on the power of a cup, even if his resolve to assist any who suffered was undeniably remarkable.

To be blunt, the dead don’t wish for anything. A ghost gifted form was all he was and all he intended to be for the duration of this war. Should a worthy master seek a wish he could agree with he’d do his damnedest; it was that simple.

Doubts aside, he’s here to win if nothing else, so with what limited time given before the storm, Yuri’s settled on enjoying a crepe outside a calm cafe to organize his thoughts.

“Some battleground." A musing to no one in particular, the few puzzled looks thrown his direction were ignored. "I’m all for ancient cities, but this is ridiculous.”

[sharpensblades]

There is very little Mikasa does in Rome for pure enjoyment. This war, no, it's potential means far too much for her to even consider taking any time for leisure. Even now, if she's not keeping herself alert for potential servants, she's considering the possibilities locations could hold for battles. In a sense, it is all she can do for the moment.

She wouldn't know where to begin outside of pure practicality. Socializing is the ideal way to meet and acquaint oneself, she even sees the advantage of doing so, but the act of actually carrying out such a thing is in all honesty lost to her. She predicts it would end as quickly and awkwardly as it started.

What originally draws her to the crepe-eating man is then logically the unmistakable aura of a servant he gives off. His voiced thoughts come second, and are the only reason her greeting is something unrelated to the looming battle

"Is that so? I find it intriguing, although perhaps the fact that I've never been to Rome skews my opinion." She has very little input on this setting personally, but his comment makes her curious nonetheless. Yet Mikasa holds her tongue. 

[oninoun]

      It’s always intimidating to be first.

      She attempts to soothe her nerves with a strawberry gelatto, nibbling at the bit she’s scooped up in her spoon while glancing around for any takers. The three empty chairs around her beckon for Masters and Servants alike, this time her red cross is fully visible as she sits quietly. There were simply too many people to meet before the war’s inception: offering a gathering spot to meet more than one at a time seemed like the only logical course of action.

[evengodslose]

It was… too… crowded… he’d known going in that he was going to have to be around people.  but he’d never imagined that there could be this many.  everywhere he turned, there were more of them, he couldn’t even move without nearly running into a person.  tch, spoke too soon, as soon as he thought that he managed to bump into a person who had stopped in their tracks.  Gah! he jumped back, only to run into another person.

to escape from the crowd, he took the only reasonable course of action, and dove to the side, landing flat on his back and finding himself looking up at a girl

he silently cursed the cruel god who sent him sparaling down under a girl with such a long dress before noticing the cross

"you’re a…" he muttered, "master"

[sharpensblades]

Mikasa would have never taken note of the lone girl sitting at a table if not for the sliding man. Her eyes had followed his trail, which happened to lead right to her. Only then did the black haired female notice the cross and hear the muttering of the guy on the floor.

Master. So they're part of the war. Approaching them herself, Mikasa hesitates. Hopefully they're... open to interaction. The Grail War would attract a diverse amount of participants, with this consideration she speaks with an air of caution.

"...and you as well." Her statement is directed to the one on the his back. A magus asking such a thing can only mean the same for them, she presumes.

[sharpensblades]

Intro late as heck

Oh gosh ok hi my name is Sana. This is late as heck. But ok uhh I play Mikasa Ackerman obvs and also Katsuragi Yako! Since I never know what to put in these kinds of things I'll just start off by saying I look forward to talking and rping with everyone??? Let me be friends with you....

Uhhh I love otoges and animu and video games and a lot of things. I'm a giant nerd and I probably want to talk to you I'm just too weenie to actually do it. I guess my interests are like Dialovers, Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro, snk, ao no exorcist, sound horizon, a lot more i probably shouldnt list....

I gotta do that posting thing more consistently so!! This is a dual purpose post if you want to plot with Mikasa or smth hmu! Pls message me or if you like this I'm going to assume you want to plot??? umu im bad at intros

[sharpensblades]

Ackerwhatnow {Levi}

Unlike how she assumes many participants in this war prioritize, Mikasa doesn't have a particular opinion on this location. Rome would have never crossed her mind, but she has no objections nor does she rejoice. She has one purpose and one wish to fulfill; simply that and nothing more. 

Of course, she'll have to find a servant as well. She can't quite determine if a systematical approach to achieving victory is possible, but if one exists surely she will discover it eventually. Otherwise, the dark haired female supposes she has enough confidence and skill to reach her ambitions. 

For now, in a time of peace, she walks with a latte in hand. Taking in the sights (scoping the battlefield), and observing the citizens (keen on sensing any servants), in her musings she also happens to stumble. With a latte in hand. 

Except it slips out of her grip and... onto someone's shirt.

"I'm... sorry."

darkwingsdarkheart