thenearshore | June Training

Entry tags:

June Training

Who: Everyone
What: Information and Training
When: June 7th, 2017
Where: Apollo's Temple, The Far Shore
Summary: FIRST-CLASS ENTERTAINME---er, training for extant gods and shinki

Determining which temple to visit for today's training is not difficult. For one thing, Apollo's Temple is setting off fireworks periodically to entice newcomers through its high, Hibiki-statue-flanked doors. For another, anyone leaving their own temples will find themselves immediately confronted with an adorable purple goat robot wearing sunglasses and a bow tie. The goat has a silver platform suspended above it, atop which has been set a single purple rose and a brief note:

I shall be maa-ttending you today. Follow me.

Said goat will continue to follow your character until they give in and do as the note suggests. In fact, even once they do, the goat shall accompany them for the duration of today's log, seeing to their every need. Ask the goat to fetch something, and it shall be fetched. Ask the goat for directions within Hibiki's castle - "Where is the god training?", "Isn't there an amusement park in here?" - and guidance shall be provided maa-ccordingly.

It seems, today, everyone will receive a full Celebrity Maa-xperience.

Introductions

"CelePara Prince Hour!"

excellence

exercises

God Training

Top-Class

Open the new celeb world

first flush

Shinki Training

boring

really

Self-Improvement Training

ad-lib

random scenario

Rest and Refreshments

everyone

self service

full service

enforced

Please take care

Starship PriPirates'

In Summary:

Delight in your precious new robot BFF (maa-ttendants are OK to NPC & adopt!)
Learn absolutely nothing from anybody actually charged with hosting this informational session
Engage in various "training" activities with no ulterior motives behind them whatsoever
Be kidnapped by pirates?????
Have fun~

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yeah. Won the motherfucking lottery.

[There's not as much sarcastic bite as there should be. Because that's true. And the price of that comes complete with a banquet of ethical dilemmas as Waver's staring all the aspects of godhood in the face. And the example of what getting wrapped up in your own issues and righteousness to the point where it blinds out everything else haunting him in the ghost of Saber.

And he refuses to be Saber.

The perfect King had been anything but perfect.]

What about you? What's winning the lottery look like to you these days?

[He's genuinely curious. And concerned. Because he 100% supports Judar's desire to go unnamed, but there is that gun to every shinki's head that can't be ignored.

If he's to be a leader... a God... then he feels like it's his duty to remove that gun. To be able to break his people's chains and elevate them. Not keep them trapped in places that cause misery. There's nothing wrong with service. He serves the greatest King he's ever known. But it can't be coerced. It has to be chosen and given freely, with full knowing consent. Loyalty is far too precious on both sides to be treated like it here.]

[ It'd be incredibly different if his unnamed time was from some kind of choice or desire. Instead he faces that question with a half-hearted shrug before resting his hands behind his head. ]

It looks unattainable and impossible for me.

[ It's embarrassing to say, but there's an instinct deep inside to find people with a particular kind of potential; to push them into that role better to continue serving them. That was an instinct that was at harsh odds against something darker swirling inside, with a violent anger, that wanted to destroy it all. The darker stuff had eased up considerably as a side effect to the ablution, but if he didn't have that distraction for so long, the intrusive thoughts would've been far worse and more destructive.

Ah, but just saying impossible would be a cop out, huh? ]

I guess a dry enough place to keep all my things, where I can actually rest for a while. Even at that place you mentioned, it's only temporary. After a while, being there attracts those smaller ayakashi. Even if I do get named, or find a place to get comfortable at, the place'll probably just disappear.

[ He's got some really bad luck, if you couldn't tell. Great skill and potential, but some of the shittiest luck around. ~~Much like his Arabian Nights' namesake.~~ ]

[There's an incredibly bitter smile at that. He knows that feeling. He lived striving for improving his magecraft, and it was unattainable and impossible and yet he kept pushing forward and what had that brou...

... back to Iskandar.

Back to Iskandar.]

Sometimes what you get when reaching's enough. Sometimes not. You should reach regardless.

[... is he really going to suggest this? But Judar will be treated well there and there's no danger of being left in the dirt.]

Have you considered turning to Lord Ebisu? There is no danger of that there.

[ ... For some reason, despite not expecting anything, Judar's mood fell just the smallest bit. Pawned to another in suggestions, huh? Well, that seemed right. No one would want-

No, getting stuck on that thinking wouldn't do. ]

Y'know there's a bunch of different records out in the library, not just on what happened, but partially blacked out history records. Delving too far into some subjects can get a god to be executed. All it really does is reset them to a childlike age to grow up into being more in line with what the Heavens want.

[ Except this certainly seems out of nowhere, right? There's a thread, and Judar's leading up to it. ]

Even if I thought about it, with what I can see and the type of things I've been looking into, I don't think the chibi's shinki will appreciate me putting him on the fast track to repeat history.

[ He had definitely thought about it. ]

I know. I'm in that Temple a lot and I've been told why. They didn't just execute him but a good deal of his shinki as well. I don't want to see that happen again.

[Fast track or finally get it through to Ebisu not to repeat history... or do it in a way that doesn't bring the rest of the Temple down with him.]

... but, alright, that doesn't work for you.

I know you mentioned before that our Temple holds no interest for you, and that's why I thought of Lord Ebisu first, but...

[Not wanting him. There's a mutual assumption.]

Would you like a name from me?

[ Yeah, for all the reasons, excuses, and some lies he gives, Judar cares a bit about the way things could go. Caster's former god had quite a bit of appeal towards him. The true aura of a king hit something in his instincts, and it was... Kind of scary. He didn't know how to feel about it, or what it meant. Even without that, the guy didn't seem comfortable with their last interactions together.

Waver didn't hit those instincts, which was a relief, and had already proven to indulge in some of his curiosities with magic. The previous Caster was relaxed in a way that allowed him space, or violence, as needed, but that guy was very much going off of a single lesson or idea with magic.

But there's that twice-burned question of 'what if he disappears.' ]

Maybe...

[ It's a 'maybe' of someone that didn't indulge on the idea of what they'd like for a potentially long run. It was easy to think of reasons why it'd be a bad idea, or why the god might regret it. That is, if his own memory from life was anything to go by. ]

I can't say you'll want to keep me named, depending on what you see.

[The sheer relief that floods through Waver that Judar will know that he's seeing his memories is staggering, and lifts a weight from his chest. Memory transfer is normal... but to do it without the other party's knowledge and consent is...]

I don't throw people away. I know the things I could see could be terrible, but honestly? I've done terrible things myself - including start a war in which I was fully prepared to destroy a city to win. I'm no saint.

The person I love most has spilled countless peoples' blood in the name of conquest. It does not make me love him any less. He's more than his crimes.

So are you.

I wouldn't offer unless I was willing to accept all of you, Judar.

[ It made sense, if not through context of the gods he's been with, then through all the books he's read through in the library. There's quite a bit he had to pick up and learn about the bond.

And with starting a war, it's something that hits too close to the truth of what Judar remembered about himself. He started a war, destroyed a city/country and destabilized another, without caring about winning. He didn't care because it 'wasn't his choice.' Did it really matter how old he was in that time?

In some ways, it was funny. Waver was more ready to accept all of him than Judar's even managed to do with what little he had. ]

Well, if you end up seeing a more recent memory, it just seemed like a better choice to not involve either of you again.

[ Talk about being vague, Judar. ]

We only see memories from your time in mortality, Judar. [Which always includes the transition from. The admission comes with the feeling of a vice ready to squeeze on his throat.] Your time here is your own.

[The vagueness makes him wonder, especially given it pertains to both him and Iskandar. Again? Did they forget something?

Is Judar trying to protect them from whatever it was?]

Ah. It's one of those things, huh?

[Given how Heaven is... it might be better not to know.]

Listen, one thing I do is respect the fact that any shinki of mine are allowed their secrets as much as I am. I'm not going to poke if you think it will harm us by letting us know. Or mention this to Iskandar.

The only time I will seriously get my nose into it or any other secret of yours is if I feel there's significant danger to me, Iskandar, or you by keeping it. The one thing I need to know right now is are you safe and are you going to be okay going forward keeping it? That's it.

[ Well, that was a bit of a relief. There was quite a bit that's happened in his time as a shinki that he didn't want an extra set of eyes on. That's because he's completely unaware of the time that he regularly helped himself to the servants in the castle regularly, because they'd let him, without argument or anything. Without recollection, sometimes history repeats itself. Just with followers instead of servants.

Why did this feel like the only time someone both respected his choices but also put concern for his safety? To such a way that he was being asked, instead of having it decided? ]

Y-yeah, everyone's safe. I've recently brought the Crystal back to Amaterasu's security, so it'd be fine at this point anyway.

[ He wasn't going to push or detail what it was about the crystal, though. It was just easier to let both of them stay ignorant, or remember, with their own time. ]

[There's enough he can remember about the crystal that Waver can guess from that night at the compound, and from those words, can take a stab at what may have happened. And given the recent mention of Ebisu's execution... no, ignorance for both is better. Safer.]

Then let's leave that where it should be, in the past.

[What else? Ah...

He touches the red jade ring on his left hand.]

It's important that you know that Iskandar is my king as well as my lover. We knew each other in my life, and I am sworn to him as his retainer. So you'll probably be seeing a lot of him. We're always in each other's Temples. [Mostly Iskandar's.] If you become my shinki, I ask that you respect him as you do me because of that and if he's giving you issues, to immediately let me know.

[There are responsibilities and loyalties to balance, regardless of love and trust. Duty to king and duty as God. Duty as God demands that Judar know exactly what the deal is with everyone before he jumps into things so he can properly decide for himself.]

That respect also needs to extend to every member of our household, including our soulless. In return, they must respect you. Sounds fair?

[ Despite how Judar may act at times, he's got some understanding of how politics could go. Also he'd rather shoulder the whole secret thing instead of watching a potential god hold it and hide it from their king. That'd just make him feel guilty- guiltier than he'd initially expect, especially if it were any other kind of relationship. For some reason, king had a deeper importance than lover. Not that he would, or could, think about why that was.

Respect, though... While it might not seem like it, Judar gives more of it than people would expect. Sometimes he got it back, maybe? He couldn't tell if it was that or people humoring him. ]

Yeah, sounds fair.

[ For a moment he thought about whether or not he should extend the offer he had at Cu's temple. It'd probably be better to go towards both Waver and his King. Two should be easy enough, right...? ]

If you need mana, or energy, lemme know. I guess that'd go to your king, too. As long as I know, I can handle the drain.

[ It's a position of vulnerability for himself, but... Eh, may as well try this trust thing, right? ]

[It always bears saying regardless. Both the need for it and the assurance that any disrespect towards Judar would not go unanswered. Everyone is responsible for taking care of maintaining the emotional health of a Temple, that's what Waver has learnt, and it's important to state the ground rules out loud for everyone's sake.

There's a flash of sheer gratitude across Waver's face at Judar's offer. Clearly... it's been a bit of an issue, based on the mana collection array Waver had been setting up last time. Casters tend to be more efficient in their mana use than Riders in general, but Waver had been bearing the burdens of warding all the shrines of Iskandar and now his on the Near Shore as well as other spellcasting. It's generally left him on the hungrier side.]

We will. Thank you.

Anything else you want to ask me, boundaries I need to know and follow, that sort of thing?

[He figures Judar by now knows the general Heroic Spirit position on Nora and if he plans to do so, it's better to ask than not, especially given Waver's own position of serving Iskandar. It's a position Waver has debated himself upon ascension, and while there would be absolutely no problem with him taking a name from Iskandar (no loyalty conflict there), anyone else aside from a temporary name given if circumstances truly demand would require a discussion.

There's some excellent reasons to Nora. There's some excellent reasons not to. There's loyalty conflicts Waver wishes to avoid, loyalty to him is a deathly serious matter, and yet the needs of the God-shinki relationship is not quite the same as between ruler and vassal, so Waver also understands that there needs to be some amount of flexibility as well.]

If not, all that needs to be decided on is the Name. Do you have any ideas?

[ Having been around two servants for a little while, Judar at least got a bit of an idea of the strain that was going on, and how often they could need a refill. It'd obviously be different from servant to servant, but it gave him a bit of an idea. The initial question confuses him, and there might be a hint of that with the teen's response. ]

What, with kinks or something? I guess it's fine being passed back and forth with you and your king, but gimme a heads up before any threesomes?

[ Judar, you're giving a very bad impression on what happened at Cu's temple. Though it was usually just kissing for the energy, at the least- Well, it proved well enough that the magi was a pretty open person for that kind of thing. ]

Just nothing stupid, or funny. It took me a bit to figure out, but Izumo's name meant peaches- Dumb, right? Fucking Cu's meant stuff like dark, depressed and ill-boding or whatever. Who names their shinki something that could mean 'hopeless'?

[ Someone that had a bad sense of humor. ]

[Waver's eyebrows shoot up. Cu, okay, it's legendary... but, Archer? Wow. Though given he and Iskandar go at it like rabbits, perhaps it's pot kettle black on his side.]

Huh. Caster had a wilder temple than I ever could have imagined. [What were you imagining, Waver?] Iskandar and I are pretty vanilla outside each other, though. [Judar doesn't want hear about your sex life, Waver. Probably. Iskandar's really been rubbing off on you for lack of shame.] Mana transfers through hand holding pretty much.

We will give heads up before things get that spicy, though. Speaking of him...

[There's a quick text or two and he waves his hand. Back to the subject.]

No... I meant positions on nora-ing or naming soulless or anything like that or things that gods have done before that you don't want me to do.

[Waver's nose wrinkles.]

Okay, that's blacker than mine was. The name Shinobu, the vessel Nin. Endurance... as endure under suffering, spying, deception.

[But he also has that sort of dark, bleak humor and it was fitting.]

Give me a moment.

Peaches. Christ. Nothing like that, I promise.

I mean, I'm fine with kissing. It's not like either of you are ugly. How it's transferred is up to you two.

[ He's just the power bank, and all that, giving some wild and crazy impressions of his previous temple. Archer had a weird humor and only rarely used him for mana. Cu was just his own category altogether. Which may be why the magi wasn't making any corrections about how Waver seems to have interpreted things. ]

Noras have a tactical advantage for a lot of things, and soulless have a purpose. Just go with whatever you choose with conviction.

[ It's what he expects of someone he's serving, to have that kind of strength. But man, Waver. At least yours had something endearing, for as black as it was. Judar's was just depressing, as the other was dumb. ]

If it's nowhere near as bad as those, then you'll already be a step above the others.

[Should he also warn Waver? Well, it'd be dumb to do, because there's no confirmation or proof, so much as a feeling based off of other things that have gone on, and the internal shift after that ablution. Even more, saying that he thought something was wrong with him sounded dumb, because he didn't know what kind of wrong in the first place. Waver already declared that he was ready to accept everything, so maybe it didn't matter as much. ]

[Waver's eyebrows raise a little higher. Sorry Archer. Sorry Caster. Judar has just cemented the entertaining notion that your Temple was the set of Servants Gone Wild even if the insistence on kissing is starting to paint a different picture.]

Neither are you. Kissing's good? Okay, we'll work it out when it comes to it.

[Fair enough, though. There's Judar's stance on the subject (and decision making in general), as briefly stated as it is. Good to know to factor into future decisions.]

I don't mind you nora-ing to Iskandar should it prove necessary to have those advantages. As my king, there's no conflicted loyalties. [And they all know how the chain of command goes there.] Aside from that, unless the circumstances are dire and require a temporary name, don't.

As for soulless, no.

[... he runs along the same lines as Iskandar and Caster on that one, even if on the question of nora he's more flexible and marrying old values with modern pragmatism.

As for the name, Waver suddenly glances to the phone as it beeps and he puts it away.] Hm. Okay. [Before continuing.]

... it'll be a bit better than fluff and despair.

[Though by just a step. The kanji for balance that godly instinct insisted on has some meanings that are particularly pointed for a shinki.

Waver offers his hand, crushing the first tendrils of anxiety starting to spin in his gut. He doesn't need that now.]

Let's get out of here. My temple is a better place for this.

Edited 2019-07-06 08:52 (UTC)

Never nora'd before, or really thought about it for myself. So if it does come up, it'd have to be from the big guy.

[ Similar to how he never accepted suggestions of who to go to, he wasn't going to be bound to someone that didn't want it to begin with. It couldn't be their choice if people were suggesting it for them, and if it was, then they didn't have the spine that Judar wanted his god to have.

Which is why he doesn't push anything, or distract Waver from his phone. It was either to check for names, or to talk to his King, so he just waited around until the suggestion to go elsewhere came up. ]

Sure. You got the hang of teleporting for it?

[ He knows that there's some limitations to that ability, but why not use a handy thing like it? He does, with its flashy spell, all the time. Which is why he goes over by Waver's side, offering his hand if that's the choice, but ready to walk if that was still too new to the former shinki. ]

[Waver nods. Becoming nora was inconceivable to him, aside from the fact he'd fall if named again.]

Speaking of him, he's at my temple now. [So the latter there.] He'll be meeting up with us.

[Anxiety still spins low in his gut as Waver begins to brace mentally and construct his psychic armor so he doesn't have a reaction that gives anything away to Judar. It doesn't show on his face or in his body language - he's relaxed as he stands and takes Judar's hand - but it's doubly important now that he knows Judar knows.

He can't allow a clue to slip past of what he's seeing.]

Teleporting's fine. I enjoy it.

[For how damn useful it is.]

Flying, though... now there's something I'm working on...

[The scenery shifts and suddenly they're in a garden filled with peach trees with ripening fruit and wildflowers among the grass. It's quiet and peaceful except for the call of a crane occasionally. He has a small flock of them hanging around the grounds, and while they leave Iskandar and himself alone, some of Amaterasu's shinki have not been so lucky.

Beyond the garden is a small traditional Chinese villa nestled up next to a fairly large pond with blue lotus and rock formations rising from it. The temple's blessed water source... and as Waver has found, a fairly decent place to cool off when it's stinking hot.

Iskandar is nearby, by one of the stone lanterns with the Argead Star at its base. Waver raises a hand in greeting.]

Hey.

[Iskandar lights up with a smile seeing them. Seeing Waver. Still, he's looking for any sign of unease. With Waver being master of hiding his real emotions, it's not an easy feat. To his dismay, Iskandar had time and occasion to practise. He knows when to look even if the evidence is subtle.]

Hey.

[He turns to Judar if only to acknowledge his presence. He nods.]

Judar.

What's so hard about flying?

[ Such a question that came out with incredulous ease. Then again, Judar had a good handle of using flying magic while independently controlling other spells, so clearly he was well practiced and at ease with it. That and he didn't have a fear of heights, which helps.

After they teleport, while there's a general awareness of Iskander, the magi's attention and eyes are drawn immediately to all of the ripening peach trees. They seemed so close to being at the perfect point for eating, too. Ah, it's been so long since he ate something good. What a time to be reminded of that- tsk. But really, there was something about the garden that warmed him in a way that other temples hadn't. Probably because it was reminiscent of the castle's gardens, in a time he'd be unlikely to remember. You wouldn't think he could be such a hellion with the expression he had, really.

And it took him a second to realize that he was completely ignoring everything else. Whoops. So his expression shifted to something casually friendly enough, like he was in a good mood. Even if he really wasn't sure of how he was feeling right now. ]

Hey big guy. You two really do do everything together when you can, huh?

[An answer to that one isn't coming because of the teleport, but it has to do with a general fear of heights and no familiarity with flight or any magecraft surrounding a grant of it.

There's a pleased look at Judar's distraction as he takes in the garden. It's very subtle, but Iskandar can see the fine points of tension in Waver's movements and posture, even if his expression gives nothing away as it melts to softness as Waver takes in Iskandar's smile. It tells of anxiety and Waver locking down, refusing to show anything that might give Judar a dangerous idea once the naming's underway.]

Pretty much. We always want to be together for the important things. [Casually. There's no trace of unease in Waver's voice as well. His years of politics at play.] You ready?

[Waver gives Judar and Iskandar time to respond before turning to Judar. Best now, before the anxiety can whip itself into a frenzy by drawing it out any further. He holds onto his mask with an iron grip as he speaks the incantation, drawing out the kanji for the name in glowing light.

He's not going to fall, he's not going to fall...]

My name is Zhuge Liang. Grasping thy true name, I bind thee here. With borrowed name, I dub thee my servant. The name answers, the vessel to sound. I call thee as my divine instrument.

[Here it comes.]

The name, Nokoru. The vessel, Zan. Come, Zanki!

Edited (last edit) 2019-07-07 05:36 (UTC)

We really do.

[That's his only comment. Other than that he stays silent.

Waver's is a god of this Temple, it's his ritual. Iskandar would never compromise his lover's authority by showing that he knows how harrowing the whole ordeal is for Waver. His part is to show support, provide comfort and stability. The decision has been made and now they just need to follow through with it.
There is a glimmer of hope though. Judar and Waver, they're both mages. It will be definitely easier for them to come to understanding then it would if Iskandar was in Waver's place.

Iskandar has never seen the Naming that he wasn't one performing it before. Never observed it happen from the outside. For all the agony there's still an otherworldly beauty to it, the bond is sacred. It is something truly special.

Now more than ever he thinks that the old gods or whoever that created the ritual tapped into a power more ancient and arcane than they themselves have ever been. And they've done a truly poor job of it. As if they have done only half of the work. He sees hints of it everywhere, glimmers barely, images he doesn't even understand and for a moment it feels almost sacrilegious that he had performed the ritual himself. Twice. No, three times already. For it feels like an intrusion over what might have been. But it's only a moment and it's gone in an instant.

He really shouldn't let his mind wander. Waver needs him focused.]

[ There were a couple of glimmers of hope, between that and the fact that they weren't assigned. No one pushed Judar upon Waver, save for Waver himself. The Caster was ready to accept things, and whether he felt ready or not, Judar was taking a chance to choose and try once again, with another god. To make the decision before the process had been done, instead of after he'd been drained, or because a bond was already set by other gods. So, with this time, he makes sure to watch as the character is written in the air before it sends itself over to place itself on Judar's back- against the left shoulder blade- before his body took that first change into whatever he'd be.

First it seemed like it might be a staff, with the pole that went to Waver's hand, before continuing to form. As the fringe and blade started to take place, it proved to instead be a chinese glaive, which seemed to be of a quality meant for someone higher than a common soldier, but not so ornate that it was for ceremonial purposes. The only ornate part was the mark inlaid in the blade, that seemed similar to one of the many Solomic seals, for the 8-pointed star in a circle.

It's an item that Waver will end up seeing quite a bit of in the memories, even towards the end of them. He'll have far more context on the shinki he chose to name, having chunks and snippets of a world with only one language, but many ways in which it was written. He'd get enough of a glimpse of the way the magi was raised, just expertly enough to be a powerful tool to some group, until the memory where he'd learned the truth and decided to destroy them. Then, of course, the final memory, which didn't end with a lack of oxygen and cold, but just a sudden blackness while he seemed to be in a place of safety.

Meanwhile, Judar was familiar with the white space he was in, after so long. It feels similar to how it was while Cu had him named, more so than Izumo, so it must be due to the potential of lending out his mana- ruhk in his world- to help maintain a servant's reserves. A lot of it seemed similar, actually. Like this was his form, but it didn't stop here.

But the magician was still going to wait a bit to make sure things went okay on the other side. ]

... Hey, frown lines, you good?

[Iskandar can see the moment the memories hit as a snap of muscles to tenseness. It's unlike the sudden flow of memories like the tide in as his and Zhuge Liang's consciousness joined, or the misty vision that came in a dream that wasn't a memory of Iskandar's at all, but a prophecy of what is yet to be. They throb through him, yanking him along to live Judar's life alongside him in fragments. A long silenced heartbeat.

To be loved by the World and the Rukh, the magic, for the purposes of shaping it. The role of a magi is to chose the King and guide him or her to the throne. To find the candidates, to guide them through the dungeons and trials, gathering power and wisdom and the hearts of the people, until one is ready and worthy to sit and rule. This is ordained by Fate.

There are supposed to be three that are meant to be these most important of guides in magic and kingship. But there are always those that would pervert the system to their own ends and abuse those higher callings and the power that comes with it. Waver fought them on his own battlefield. But the enemy is everywhere.

Waver snarls mentally in mounting fury as he watches the story of a child raised as a tool and conditioned and made dependent upon a group, upon a woman and made to do their will. He watches the fumbling attempts at friendship, the influences that make them fail, and a child reaching out, trying to fill a gaping hole in his heart as the corrosion rises and Waver's old friends bitterness and anger take hold.

"Because, as long as you're my King, I'm fine with just you!"

There's a hole there and Judar fills it however he can, and that includes with the people he's guiding. Candidates... not friends, never forget a magi attracts just candidates for kingship... but companionship is what he's truly desiring. There's one face in particular... Hakuryuu... that keeps coming up. Alcohol flows in some of the memories. Judar huddles in the dark in others, comforting himself with his purpose, as the dark bears its terrible fangs.

There's a peach garden like the one he owns...

He watches as Judar watches how it all came to be. The past reflected on the wall as Waver stands with Judar. His parents holding a happy child, his magic pure and without corruption, flickering around him in the form of butterflies. It's joyful, with hope for the future, and then it all turns to ash as those loving parents are murdered for their child, and that baby stolen.

Then it all turns to horror as he sees what's intended for that baby, the ritual to turn him into their tool. Waver's blood runs cold as he watches the woman blast the wailing infant with black and violent purple energy until the child's magic corrupts and those dancing butterflies of light turn just as dark as the spell. He watches, Judar eats a peach as he stares at the wall when the images all fade out, the stream of memories beat on.

If that woman appears before him, she's dead. Waver swears it upon his status as a Heroic Spirit.

Absorbing Magnostadt. Brushing past Sinbad, the King candidate he's never been able to ignore before. His determination to bring Hakuryuu to kingship. Belial's dungeon - Hakuryuu at his side... then staring down at the image of a burning country with Judar and another, Aladdin. An illusion... no a reconstruction of a memory. The country's name is Sindria and Judar's laid it to waste.

His guilt. Aladdin, the fragment of his mind made illusion, tries to say it's not his fault even though he's committed atrocities, that he was used ever since he was born. That they understand. But it's not that easy. Fuyuki burns in Waver's mind as he watches Sindria burn in turn. It's not that easy, as he stands with Judar in the memory, not that easy at all as he watches Aladdin urges Judar to cut ties to those who are using and abusing him.

Forgiving yourself is never that easy no matter the real level of responsibility in the matter though.

Cut ties. Waver watches Judar melt down. Sure he'll cut ties but why should he forgive - he can't forgive?! Robbed of his parents, life controlled without any choices! Why was it him and not any of the others - WHY HIM?!

Memory beats on and then they come to it. That final fight between Aladdin and Judar. It's a titanic struggle that shatters the landscape - akin to a battle between the Heroes on the Throne. There's another battle nearby - Hakuryuu versus another. The earth groans as things continue, flame roars. Hakuryuu falls, both legs burnt away. But the other is worse. He's won, and Hakuryuu commands Judar to hurry up and finish Aladdin and come to his side.

Who could ignore such an order from their liege?

Who would not become anything in order to fulfill that command?

Waver watches as Judar takes in more and more power to attack, but Aladdin is countering, and Waver watches a form strike and Judar is pushed up, and up, and up, and readying to counterattack even as he soars ever upward.

Hakuryuu is yelling for him and interfering. His King trying to save him, and ordering him to put up an isolation barrier. But it's too late. Judar breaches atmosphere and there's perfect black.

Not the way he wanted to go. Not the way Waver would have wanted for anyone, with their King watching.

It all goes dark and the visions fade. A heartbeat silenced, a candle snuffed...

And he's staring into Iskandar's eyes as the world reappears, eyes burning as he forces the mask to stay in place, forces himself to breathe calmly and not give anything away. He knows his King can read the signs that he's shaken, and right now he's taking a moment to get himself together and try to dispel the last ghosts of memory as Judar's life and death sink itself into him and grabs hold with claws.

He's incredibly steadying right now and Waver focuses on him and the guandao in his grip. Hakuryuu's weapon. ... h-ha. He recognizes this. Guan Yu carried this kind of weapon, he remembers from Zhuge Liang. Though. A glaive for a Caster. He's so totally not qualified for Lancer class. Somewhere he feels like Cú Chulainn might be raising a brow. How does he? Use this?

Um. Iskandar?

Thank fuck he's here.]

I'm good. It's been awhile since I've seen a guandao, though. Guan Yu, maybe?

[Thank fuck he sounds calm and normal. Iskandar needs to hear him too. Then he squawks to distract Judar from any thoughts of what he's seen.]

And... Hey! Those are my charm points, thank you. They're not that bad!

Edited 2019-07-09 08:39 (UTC)

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