thenearshore | 23 - Crazy Cat Shuffle

Ah yes, high vantage point. Easy to defend, hard to access, and give a great view. Caster, of course, jumps to the nearest tallest tree - because THE tallest is already occupied.

"I know you've been waiting excitedly to answer this question, so-" with a sigh he gives in. He is curious, no lie. Shinki shouldn't damage the ayakashi alone. "I give up, what are you doing?"

The question you wanted hangs in the air, now show-off.

Archer grins. He's pleased with how it works, no lie, and while it's not enough to stop the ayakashi, holy water can keep it in place.

"I modified my arrows to hold some water from your temple spring." he explains, drawing his bow and nocking another arrow. "It's not enough to kill an ayakashi, but can stop it."

Fwip. The arrow shots upwards then suddenly splits into several ones, each one of them moving in perfect sync. After that it behaves like normal arrows do, hitting the target - the ayakashi - and then exploding with a hint of shimmer.

"Clever!" Caster is impressed, no really. Fighting ayakashi is more akin to hunting beasts, rather than fighting a human opponent, as far as he knows. So using similar strategy makes total sense.

"If you want to do some more testing, feel free to do so. I can wait." The situation is under control, and he has his shinki right next to him. So if Archer can test the limits of arrows, he can do so. The moment they stop working Caster will just call his vessel name, and they'll rend off the ayakashi.

And then it's the temple spring that awaits him, he might have allowed himself to be caught by surprise in initial attack and catch a minor case of blight.

"I'm glad you approve." There's a small spark of pride at the praise. Archer sends another barrage of arrows that seems to be no different from the previous batch, but the shimmer this time is stronger, and ayakashi howls. It is paralysed for a longer moment, giving Archer the perfect opportunity to take a good look at Caster and notice purplish bruises over his hands that almost compliment the vile shirt. Almost.

Okay, he can put up with several of those horible shirts that Caster loves but which makes his teeth ache, but he can't really put up with bligh. There's no hiding a flash of worry as Archer turns back to send another wave of arrows at the ayakashi.

"Better use me to get rid of this thing. We can talk later."

Because those ayakashi had to get here somehow. Blight is no coincidence either.

"That's fine by me." Having this kind of pest on his ground is making him feel a bit uneasy. Does it mean he's acting like a proper god now? By finding ayakashi disgusting? Phew, who would think that it will take only one month. Oddly enough, he doesn't have such reaction to the blight. It's an injury, a little nasty, but it can be taken care of later.

He jumps on the same tree that Archer is occupying and calls his vessel name mid-flight "Come, Kyūki!" catching the pendant that his shinki transforms into on landing.

"Now, give me something appropriate here." he needs a weapon in his hands, can't beat the ayakashi to death with a jewel.

Archer may never get used to that odd feeling of being in two places at once as his body vanishes in the flash of light, but it's the small price to pay for being useful.

'Trace On' familiar incantation and two swords materialize right onto Caster's hands.

Hm. It's not really useful against an ayakashi so large, so Archer changes his mind and projects again; the swords become a blueish light and change shape, thinning and connecting until the shape solidifies into a green spear.

'My apologies. Swords aren't suited for this kind of hunt.'

"Hm, that's amazingly unremarkable" Caster barks a laugh. It's not any kind of powerful weapon like those Archer made before. A makeshift but solid spear, reminding him of the one he trained with during his stay in the Land of Shadows.

It's probably easier to create than a faithful copy, so it might have a little longer timer than five minutes.

"Oh, looks like our prey has recovered" He spins the spear for absolutely no reason at all and launches himself into the air and-- throws the spear at the ayakashi.

"Give me another one!" How many will he need to skewer it dead?

Coming from Caster it's actually a praise. Archer feels a tiny spark of pride; while he modeled it after a weapon he must've had seen somewhere during his life it's no Noble Phantasm, merely a weapon of same length and weight as Caster's beloved spear.

'As you wish.'

Another spear solidifies right into Caster's waiting hands. honestly one should be enough to ren the ayakashi, but it looks like Caster's having fun. Archer won't mind if he plays a bit longer. After all, a hunt gets a bit boring if the prey dies after first hit.

He lands on the ground before the new spear materializes fully. Pinning the ayakashi to the ground might have immobilized it, but it does nothing towards its aggression and reach.

Not that Caster minds, because he lunges forward, dodges the horizontal swing and strikes it viciously.

"Think this will be enough?" casually chatting with his own weapon is becoming a thing.

Ayakashi's howls grow quieter as its movements grow sluggish. Archer keeps a wary eye on it, not really trusting its sudden weakness.

'Seems so. One more and it's done for.' Archer isn't going to insult Caster by telling him to be careful; after all, his partner thrives for another fight. He can see it in a way Caster grips the spear, can hear it in heart beating faster from excitement right next to his ear. Archer keeps a silent vigil on the sidelines.

~~Perhaps he misses fighting alongside others, or perhaps he never really had the chance to experience it before. That he cannot remember.~~

[ That bitterness might one day spell your doom, Archer, but Caster can understand it- as much as shinki on their own are useless, so are Gods. This is teamwork, and this is how the two fight together - like it or not ]

Maybe~ [ Previous ayakashi took a bit work to defeat. Nothing to break a real sweat over, - of course that’s what Caster would say - but not as easy as just “stab and ti dies”. And there is a real question: has the weapon be held by him to be useful? Archer’s vessel form is the pendant itself, not the weapons he pulls from who-knows-where

But that’s too much thinking, instead, he leaps forward, twirling in the mid-air to make sure that when he lands, his back won’t be exposed. Wielding the spear one-handed he stabs the ayakashi viciously - so close he could just extend his free hand and draw runes over it - but that’s where the spear pinning it down breaks, - disintegrates -, and frees its movement. And makes it retaliate ]

[Archer knows that, and tries to hold it at bay by being useful. It doesn't manifest often, only during the short moments mid-battle.

He can feel the moment the spear breaks. It takes merely a breath to react.]

'Trace on!'

[Several swords materialize right above the ayakashi and drive through it in attempt to pin it.]

[ The sudden barrage stops it from successfully finishing it attacks, allows Caster to slip by and drive the spear through it. Finally successfully rending it away.

One by one the weapons start to disappear. ]

Come back, Emiya [ Caster calls Archer back from his vessel form, and when he shows up again, gives him a smack in the back, and weasels his arm around shoulders ]

That was a good move. Didn't know you could do something like this!

[ Making weapons is one thing. Calling aerial support of blades is another ]

[Caster's reaction is a pleasant suprise that catches him unaware. Archer gives an awkward chuckle and a shake of his head.]

I acted on instinct. Haven't tried it with full size weapons before.

[Given how projecting Caster's beloved spear burned almost all of his mana, Archer was wary of experimenting too much. Projecting several powerful weapons could kill him.]

I'm glad it worked.

Keep trying then. [ Otherwise nothing can be accomplished. He's starting to like that dour shinki of his, even despite their past history. Or maybe because of it? Friends to enemies, enemies to friends- that was always a part of life for him. But yeah mana is a precious resource, and Caster can relate to running low on it. While neither of them will disappear without it, this time it's still a hindrance.

Suddenly Caster peels himself away from Archer, because he remembered about the blight sting and how easy it can transfer ]

Shit- my bad.

[The blight is the last thing on his mind now, but Archer can feel the light sting and just chooses to ignore it. That's why he snorts and shakes his head ruefully. Have a light punch to the shoulder, Cú.]

With your reaction I'd think it's something serious instead of that itch. [Archer runs a hand through his hair, but at least he's still smiling.] So it's time for temple spring now?

[ And now the roles have turned, and it's Archer who seems to be unperturbed by blight. Does it means Caster started to settle more into the "godly" role? It's not the sting that's an issue here, it's how... disgusting it is. And how easily can transfer to someone else. ]

It is. I don't think there is more of those roaming around.

[ Now that adrenaline is gone his movement feels sluggish. He really overdid himself on the magic front already. Almost a shame he can't just turn to the spirit form for the sake of conserving energy. That won't stop him from stupidly being ready to fight to the death, even if he weakens himself with every spell. For once, that's where his shinki come in - it's good he can just fight with a normal weapon. ]

Feeling better? [ That was a fight you've put out there Archer, and the surprise sword barrage was what turned the tide. ]

[Archer casts him a sharp glance and sighs.]

I'm fine. Those are low on mana consumption scale. The stronger the weapon the more mana it consimes. [Archer pauses for a moment.] Sustaining them doesn't take much mana, it's projection that does.

[That's what he knows about his skill, and what Archer thinks his god should know. After all, they are a team.

Noticing how Caster seems to be tired, he rests his not blighted hand on his shoulder. Yes, the blight feels disgusting, but the sting is a small price to pay for camaraderie.] Are you going to teleport us right to the spring, or are you in the mood for a walk?

Not in the walking mood this time- [ Caster covers the hand on his shoulder with his own - just to make sure they both get carried to the spring, and warps them there. Fortunately, god powers are separate from his own, they don't require anything, or cause fatigue. Small blessing.. which makes him wonder ]

Say, you're a shinki. That power of yours, it's something you get, right? [ He has no freaking idea how to say it, but making weapons out of thin air was Archer's shtick back in Fuyuki, back when he was still a Servant. What he's saying, that trick requiring energy to be expended makes total sense, from a Servant point of view. But he's not one, so does that mean he recovers said magical energy normally, or what? ] What happens when you run out of mana?

[Archer is ready for the sudden teleportation, but he doesn't take his hand away afterwards.]

I fall flat on my face. [he deadpans.] It happened during our spar when I projected Gáe Bolg and my swords for the second time during one day.

[The look he gives Caster is oddly calm, but there's a hint of worry.] We can always try a mana transfer, since I have some to spare.

Aren't you smooth... [ Wow, Archer, you're not wasting time or beating around the bush. Caster just side-eyes him at the suggestion, but- it is something to consider, going from the most pragmatic point of view.

That's why he needs to confirm something first. ]

Fall on the face on one day, but then everything is fine on the next one?

[ He sits on the edge of the spring and rolls his sleeve high enough to submerge the arm under the water ]

[Sorry, Cú, but Archer is as blunt as a bottle to the face.]

Yes, I felt fine after getting some rest. Otherwise I wouldn't be able to do much. [meanwhile Archer goes to - wait, is that a hiding place in a hollow of a tree? - grab a towel and go back to Caster. He kneels lose and, soaking the towel first, starts washing the blight off Caster's hand.] Here, let me help.

[ Maybe Archer didn't get here as a Servant there, and just instead as...a dead human he was before? That would explain why he can generate the precious MP as normal. Which fits with his generalized magic knowledge, dude was a magus in life and-

One that had to know about Grail Wars, if that's not coming from the "servanty" part of him. Interesting.

And possibly entirely wrong, why would he insist on being called Archer? ]

Come on, I can wash myself. [ He pries Archer's fingers off the towel to use it himself. That's a nice gesture, sure, but he's not that weakened. No falling down on face, even if his bantering skills might be a little compromised ]

[It's ironic how close to the truth Caster is. Archer himself remembers nothing and prefers to not dwell at the things. Definitely not at the contradicting skills that he has.]

If you say so. [Archer gets a towel for himself and takes care of his shoulder; the blight isn't serious but he can't see his back, thus missing some.]

[ When Caster is clean - or at least he thinks he is - the blighted spots on Archer's back began to annoy him. Sure, he can't see them, but he should try and reach them just to be sure. You're the methodical one here, Archer, why are you making such dumb a mistake-- ]

--you're missing something. [ And he suddenly wrings the towel with cold holy water right over Archer's shoulders ]

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