thenearshore | Pining for the fjords

Entry tags:

ω berserker [frankenstein] | fate/a

Pining for the fjords

Who: Berserker of Black and YOU!
What: Berserker took a solo trip to Norway and got jumped by some local ayakashi, and is dragging her half-dead self home
When: October 21, evening
Where: The Far Shore

[Well, that's the last time Berserker takes a trip to the Near Shore on her own. She'd been doing some reading about Freyr - the god Soleil has taken the role of - and decided she wanted to see the homeland of his followers. There aren't any surviving temples to the Norse gods left in Scandinavia, but Asatru is spreading in recent years and there are a number of small shrines scattered about. Berserker hopped over to one, hoping to see the fjords, but got attacked by a group of troll ayakashi halfway to her destination.

Thankfully, she's a tough fighter possessed of remarkable reserves of strength and endurance, but a sneak attack like that was almost too much. So while she managed to beat back her aggressors and escape back to the Far Shore, she's definitely extremely worse for wear. Literally dragging herself through the streets using her mace as a support, there are a number of deep gashes in her body where the ayakashi's claws managed to tear her open. Curiously, though, instead of exposed bone and sinew there are only severed wires and tubes, periodically throwing off sparks and slowly leaking some sort of black viscous liquid.

She doggedly makes her way through the streets of the Far Shore, heading for Freyr's temple. Her thoughts are consumed only with returning safely to her goddess. Unfortunately, exerting herself is only opening her wounds further, and whatever's wrong with her beyond the obvious injuries is only getting worse as she goes along. It's questionable whether or not she'll make it all the way to the temple unassisted, but at the same time she's giving off the feeling of a gravely wounded animal that may summon its last reserves of strength to attack a would-be savior at any moment.

Approach with caution.]

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[Approach with caution? How about run over in a panic? Is that about the same?]

HOLY mother of HONK, Ber! What happened??

[Once he's close enough he reaches out to try to help support her.]

[Berserker takes a step back and out of his reach, growling like a cornered animal.]

[Yeah he remembers how hard she hits. Lann puts both hands up in as non threatening a way as he can.]

Whoa, just chill out Ber. You looked pretty banged up. Let me help you.

[She's still moving away, but more slowly now. And still growling.]

[He keeps advancing, but slowly. Only one step at a time.]

Hey, we're cool. Everything's cool. But I'm worried about you, y'know? Just let me help you get back home, okay?

[Each step forward is matched with one step back. She's listening, at least. Progress?]

[Good. Listening is good. He tries for a small smile, still inching toward her.]

So, like, what happened? Seriously mean ayakashi or extremely angry bus?

[Baaaaaaacking awaaaaaaaay...]

Uuuuuuuu...

[Ayakashi seems likelier.]

[Yeah, he figures. He chuckles nervously.]

Heheh.... Ayakashi, right? So... why don't I help you get back to your god's temple? You might lose an arm trying to get there yourself....

[Her posture stiffens all over again at that, and she emphatically shakes her head.]

Hey, c'mon...

[He does stop advancing finally, just keeping his hands up where she can see them.]

Your god is probably worried about you. I am too. You're my friend.

[The word 'friend' stops her in her tracks, eyes going wide from behind her hair as she tilts her head.]

A... aaahhh?

Yeah. And there's no way I'd abandon a friend who was hurt and needed my help. So c'mon....

[He holds out one hand.]

Let's get you back home.

[Celty, as ever, was out for a ride. She didn't have any delivery jobs at the moment and she felt less guilty about riding her bike around the Far Shore now that it was more magic horse and less noisy engine. But the serenity of her ride along the old roads is broken when she sees the shape Berserker is in.

She swings her bike to a sliding stop up alongside the other Shinki, too wrapped up in her concern for her to consider the other might lash out right now, especially with the ghastly whinny emanating from her horse at the harsh halt.]

[The very sudden and loud appearance of Celty accompanied by the sound from her horse is definitely enough to set Berserker off, and with a primal howl she whirls around to swing her mace at her.]

[It really is her fault, and Celty will acknowledge that and apologize properly later.

For now though she only has enough time to raise her arms, gathering up shadows in the process. The mace collides with a thick cushion of inky black, enough to absorb most of the bone cracking force of the blow but still strong enough to throw the dullahan from her bike and go tumbling a few meters.]

Rrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeee!

[The growl rumbles up from the back of her throat, turning into a shriek as she pushes against the shadows. There's definitely a lot of strength in that tiny frame of hers. And when Celty goes tumbling, Berserker runs after her, leaping into the air and trying to bring her mace down on top of her.]

[The sheer power from the girl catches Celty off guard. She's not the sort who would underestimate everyone, and she knows that all her fellow Shinki have power in one way or another, but the raw magnitude of strength that Berseker possesses is beyond what she expected.

Even with no breath to be knocked out of her she's still dazed enough that she's delayed in rolling out of the way. Her left arm gets caught by the mace as she tries to evade, with all the wet and crunchy noises that go along with such a blow.]

[When something catches Saber's interest, he's hooked for as long as the novelty lasts. Self-preservation doesn't really factor into the equation, which is the only reason he stops. Most people would think better of it, but he's bored with his temple and one certainly doesn't happen across a woman literally falling apart on one's walk every day.]

You seem in quite a state...

[Thanks, Captain Obvious.]

[Berserker's response is simply to hold up her mace between her and Saber. It's too heavy for her in such a state, though, so she ends up just leaning on it for support as she eyes him suspiciously.]

Oh, I mean no harm!

[He smiles and raises his hands to indicate he's not armed. Not that this means anything, truly. He has his guitar in its case slung across his back and that's more than enough of a weapon to defend himself if necessary. He just doesn't plan on making it necessary at the moment.]

I would never fight a young lady who was in such distress. Lack of challenge aside, I am at least a somewhat honorable man.

[That, at least, is an understatement. He's more trustworthy than he gives himself credit for.]

Do you need help? I'm not sure what more I could do than tend your wounds a bit and carry you where you need to be, but now that we've crossed paths I feel I should do what I can.

[His posture backs up his words well enough, but she's still feeling pretty defensive. There's a low warning growl while he talks, though she does seem to be listening. At the suggestion of carrying her, though, the growling gets louder. She very distinctly does not want to be touched right now.]

You're not very talkative are you?

[You're making up for that, Saber...]

Or...did something break that you need for that...?

[Because he's watched quite a few movies with robots in them and he thinks he understands the concept. If that's indeed what's going on here. He'd REALLY like to ask, but it's pretty clear he's not going to get much of an answer.]

[The growl drops in volume as he backs off, but she does shake her head at the notion of her voice being broken. She's like this all the time. Still, it's frustrating. There's no way she'd be able to type her responses on her cell phone right now with as beat up as she is, and her thoughts are too clouded for sign language. But he hasn't set her off completely, so maybe she can manage one word. It hurts, but if she strains...]

So... leil.

Soleil?

[That gives him pause for a moment. He knows that word, but this isn't the context he would expect to hear it in. Unless, of course, this is a solar-powered robot. Which may be possible for all he knows. Of course, there are other possibilities as well.]

The sun? Or is that a name in this case?

[Why do you keep talking to the girl who can't answer you Saber?]

[There is a very faint shaking of the head at his first question, and an equally slight nod at the second.]

Ah... ahhhh...

A name, then!

[That...clears that up??]

Not one I've heard, but I'm sure I'll figure something out. That is, if you want to be carried back. I suppose if you were willing to sit tight where I could find you again, I could go find this Soleil and bring them to you.

[He's certainly taking the whole situation in stride. It looks bad, but the girl seems to be surviving it. One must always look on the bright side of things.]

Mmmm...

[She doesn't really want to be touched right now, so after a moment's consideration, she sits in place.]

[To be honest, it's a little surprising that she actually goes along with it.

Saber crouches down and reaches out to her carefully. She may be putting up with it, but that doesn't mean he can totally forgo caution.]

It's going to have to be a princess carry. With wounds like that, piggyback won't do.

[Plus, he's carrying his guitar, so.]

That mace of yours might make things a little unwieldy, but we'll do our best.

[Shaking her head vigorously, she scoots back.]

Ahhhh, ahhhhhhh...!

[She points at him, and then into the distance. And then at herself, and then at the ground.]

So... leil.

Edited 2018-03-27 01:07 (UTC)

Ah!

[He can't help but laugh. It may not be the most appropriate response, but it really is genuine.]

Yes, of course. At your service.

[He manages a little bow, even in this position, still smiling widely.]

That, my dear, is what happens when a man's ego gets the best of him. But of course I'll do my best to do what you've asked.

[Typically speaking, Soleil has no issues with letting her shinki take to her own adventuring when she feels inclined to. As much as she likes being able to spend time with Berserker, giving her that kind of freedom and curiosity is something she's more than happy to accommodate.

It's only through their shared bond that she figures out that something's wrong, though she has no idea what could be happening just from that alone. She knows that Berserker is more than capable of handling herself in dangerous situations, but as the seconds pass and the tension starts mounting, she knows she needs to get to her shinki's side.

Searching doesn't take too long, thankfully, and as soon as she spots her, she breaks into a sprint toward her partner.]

Berserker-!

[Hey, look, it's probably the only person in the Far Shore that Berserker isn't immediately on the defensive around. Or rather, she's on a different kind of defensive when she sees Soleil come running. It's a futile effort, but she kneels down and curls into herself, doing her best to cover up her wounds. She doesn't want her goddess to see her right now. Not like this. It's not normal. She'll think she's a freak.]

[For all the relief she might feel at seeing her shinki up and moving still, watching her curl up on herself like that just sends Soleil right back into a feeling of high-alert. Did she succumb to her injuries, or run out of stamina...?]

Hey, hey, hang in there a little longer, we'll get you better in no time!

[She can't... say that for sure, but it's better to be reassuring and positive in a situation like this, right?

Reaching Berserker, Soleil kneels down. Her efforts work in making it pretty difficult to completely see what's wrong with her, and as a result Soleil looks a little lost in how much she should be be handling her. She's not a medic by any means, and having some degree of insight to Berserker's less-traditional physiology muddies things up even more. She doesn't want to make the situation any worse by mistake, so she just sort of... lets her hands come to a stop just short of actually touching her shinki.

Still, there's not even a small shred of concern in her heart that Berserker will live up to her title and lash out at her in retaliation.]

Ahh, something sure did a number on you, didn't it...? [For any and all weirdness that Berserker's wounds might present, Soleil doesn't sound that shocked, just... deeply concerned.] I'm sorry I wasn't there to help you, so, please, let me get you to someone who can patch you up.

[Berserker can't bring herself to look Soleil in the eye, far too concerned with trying to cover up her wounds. They're too deep and too numerous for her to conceal them all at once, though, so at this distance it's obvious enough that there are definitely some strange things in there in place of blood, bones, and organs. And even though she can hear the concern in her goddess' voice, she's still shaking with fear at the thought that she might still reject her now that she can see her true nature.]

Uuuuuuu... uuuuuuuuuuuu...

There, there.

[Very gingerly, she sets one hand to rest on Berserker's back, careful to avoid any obvious injuries. There's a definite temptation to scoop her right up off the ground and book it back to the temple without a second thought, but that strikes her as a potentially unwise course of action with her wounds being so much of a mystery still. Soleil may be a victim to her own spontaneity most of the time, but with someone as precious to her as her shinki, she at least can exercise that much caution.]

If I call you into your vessel form, it should be easier to carry you back. Is that okay with you? Or do you think I can lift you up to do that?

[Berserker flinches momentarily at the touch, but eventually just flops forward to bury her head in Soleil's chest. She's still making scared little crying sounds, though, and mercifully the liquid leaking from her eyes appears to be actual tears and not oil. At the suggestion of returning her to her vessel form, she gives a hesitant nod.]

[With Berserker so close, Soleil can't help but bring her chin to rest atop the other's head, a gesture she hopes is at least a little comforting.]

All right, just hang in there a little longer for me, okay?

Come, Kanki.

Uuuuuuu...

[The sound she makes is mournful, but she nods all the same. And when she takes her vessel form, the extent of the damage she's taken is evident in the condition of the typically pristine wedding dress. It's now ripped and torn in places, and even worse - Berserker seems to be having trouble modulating her electrical output. Soleil may be feeling an uncomfortable shock now and then as they make their way to the temple, each one punctuated by a painful cry echoing in her head.]

[There’s a small part of her that, perhaps selfishly, was hoping that she’d be able to gather a little more information about what happened out of Berserker through the bond they share between their god and vessel connection. It’s always been easier for her to communicate like this, after all, but it’s clear she’s too beaten up, too distressed to be in any position for it.

A fuller story can come when she’s better, Soleil figures. For now, all she can do is get her home to rest.

She carefully gathers the skirt of the dress up in her arms, making it easier to move around. The shocks, however, are probably negating any time saved from her efforts, though she does everything she can to keep herself moving fluidly, not wanting to cause any extra worry from her shinki before they reach the temple door and rush inside.

To her bed they go, a comfortable place to let her rest, though one where hiding those injuries will likely be next to impossible without the cover of the evening darkness.]

Okay. [Home, safe, smile in place, she calls her shinki back.] Berserker, we’re here.

Edited (Words are hard.) 2018-03-21 14:10 (UTC)

[It's a good thing Soleil's able to bite back the pain, because one thing Berserker does not need to feel right now is guilty. That would turn out poorly for both of them.

When they get back to the temple and Soleil calls her name, the transition back to her human form is quick and harsh. Rolling over onto her stomach, she crawls toward the head of the bed and turns over.]

Uuuuuuuuuuuu... uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu...

[At least now she can get a better look at the damage here, and with that... figure out what it is she might need to do for her shinki. Her eyes pass over the other briskly, as if trying to just get a quick look at her general state, but it's... hard not to linger on the parts that are so obviously not human in nature. It's not out of disgust or fear, just curiosity and concern.

Even so, she's quick to continue her efforts to comfort Berserker, stroking her hair and trying to catch her focus as she speaks soothingly,] You'll be safe here, and I'm going to do everything I can for you. I'm sure it hurts an awful lot, but try to relax as much as you can so that you don't hurt yourself more, okay?

[The nonhuman parts are pretty hard to miss, but Berserker appreciates the fact that Soleil hasn't said anything about it yet. She slowly raises the hand of her uninjured arm to gently run her fingers down her goddess' cheek, nodding slowly.]

[At the touch, Soleil smiles, warm and sincere, as she gently places her own hand over Berserker's.]

Just sit tight, and I'll be right back.

[With that, she straightens up, exiting the room and, once out of earshot, makes a quick plea to the rest of the heavens. The temple is stocked with some supplies for smaller injury relief, but nothing for damages of this scale, so upon returning, her arms are loaded up with various towels, gauze bandaging, water, washcloths... the goal here is to do whatever kind of cleanup she's capable of, hopefully making it easier for whoever may answer her call.]

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Pining for the fjords

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