[OPEN] what can I say?

[sealeted]

Who: Hakuno and you
When: From the day after they leave the forest up until November 19
Where: All over the map
What: In the wake of the infection, Hakuno returns to her true calling: fetchquests.
Rating: G until one of you heathens spoils it


i. partners in crime

[The pair of bandits who at one point operated under the pseudonyms of Augustine and Chacon, according to the locals, are reportedly masters of disguise. Hakuno isn't entirely certain how well they can disguise their matagot, but she's determined to do her best, all the same. Chróma algae isn't exactly something they can afford to just overlook at this point.

As a King, it stings bitterly that she can't help the other Heroes in need.

So what she can do, she will.]

Where to start...


ii. the good egg

[Gisela is beautiful.

Hakuno keenly feels that, every time she comes here. Vietnam's inn is definitely where she'll make a pit stop after fulfilling her task, but right now she has stopped and settled at the edge of a copse of trees, a homemade lunch spread out over her lap. Before she has to deal with literally petrifying bird crap, she's going to enjoy the scenery.

And her food. She might even share, if you feel like asking.]


iii. heart of stone

...

[Hakuno isn't exactly thrilled to be back in the thick of a forest, all things considered. But, all things considered, she's not one to put her own comfort above the necessities of others. Really, she's dealt with worse, so there isn't even a hitch in her stride as she wanders around.

After a while, she has to stop, if only because blindly looking is obviously not the best method.]

...I'm not really in a laughing mood, honestly. I don't suppose you know any jokes?


iv. the number one fan

“There once was a beautiful mermaid princess who had just reached her fifteenth year. She rescued a prince from the stormy sea and fell in love with him at first sight. But he was a person of the land."

[If you thought Hakuno Kishinami would pass up a chance to talk about the tales of Hans Christen Andersen, you're a fool and a charlatan. She recites the story slowly, easily, as if the words are before her as clear as day. There's a melancholy air about her, which may or may not have to do with the story itself.]

"The princess hurriedly made a deal with a sea witch, and received legs in exchange for her beautiful voice. Even still, her beloved prince went on to marry another girl. How pitifully the little mermaid princess cried. Her fate, to transform into sea foam and disappear if her love went unrealized —”

[She had picked this story out first, when she first heard Andersen's name. She wonders now if some part of her knew the same ending would be waiting for her, in the end.

She sighs faintly, inspecting the fruit she earned.]

..."the immortal masterpiece," I called it once, I think. It's a story of unrewarded love. Would you believe its author nearly called it a comedy when I talked to him about it?


wildcard

[If there's another scenario you want, just let me know! I'm always up for basically anything.]

Comments

[babbylon]

Is that my true nature?

[Gilgamesh's eyes are vivid and bright upon her... whatever she says here, he's most certainly paying attention.]

[sealeted]

Hm.

[Hakuno doesn't balk, for once. It's a heavy question, but he's shoveled a lot of those her way since... well, since they first met here, honestly speaking. She moves the fruit to the crook of her arm and shifts, cradling her chin as she mulls it over.]

"An adjudicator who enjoys human emotions without understanding them," you mean? Well... Like you said before, piece by piece it isn't untrue. But it isn't the full story, either. You savor those emotions, the more passionate the better. Despair, desire, ambition, budding hope... for you, I think they're something you truly do enjoy watching. You hold yourself apart from humanity, by definition, so actual and meaningful connections are a tricky business without contradicting yourself. But, you do that all the time, so it might not be all that large of an issue, I suppose.

[She nods to herself.]

"An unspeakably selfish hedonist" fits a bit better, if I had to nitpick. Fine wine, beauty, tragedy... they're all about the same level of indulgence for you, right?

[babbylon]

[Surprisingly insightful, he thinks, and that may be an observation made about a million years too late but there was the insurmountable hill of his pride she needed to traverse all over again first to win his admiration. He's not going to reward her with praise, but he does appear outwardly pleased by her answer.]

With how he worded his paltry attempt at criticism, he seemed almost concerned for you.

[Again, in that same neutral tone:]

Did you befriend him, as well?

[sealeted]

It's hard to say. He was a bit prickly, but every so often it did seem like he worried for me.

[Her expression softens again, going warm and a bit sad.]

I found time to read his stories, and he's a man who treasures his readers. He once called me a "typical, generic savior-type protagonist. Loved by the readers, loved by the characters, loved even by the plot. Boring." But, afterwards, he turned around and said that he couldn't tell a story that wasn't there; that he was a contrarian who can only tell a story of loss, and that I shouldn't stop and settle for a story like that myself, when I was just getting started. Before Meltlilith struck him down, he verbally tore into her, then cast a spell to make Gilgamesh and I invisible so we could withdraw safely.

...If I said I didn't look back on him fondly, it would be a lie.

[babbylon]

Your heart beats far too warmly for the sake of others, little Master.

[The tip of his finger slides, over the crease of her mouth to just under her chin.]

It will bring you to ruin, someday, turn you to foam beating along with the waves; of that ending you can rest assured.

[sealeted]

It already did, technically. The Grail was literally dissolving me back into the sea of imaginary numbers before he decided to yank me out.

[The price of her wish. The price of keeping the temptation and devastating power of the Grail out of human hands, and ending the War for good.]

But, it's something that I didn't waver from choosing, even without knowing I'd be saved at the last second.

[babbylon]

Don't go too far with your subtle self-aggrandizing. You're a far cry from a Heroic Spirit, and barely capable of commanding one.

[The warmth in the gesture disappears at once as he turns away, seemingly callous.]

But I suppose there must have been some reason I went back for you. Even if it was only for trifling amusement.

[sealeted]

I never claimed I was anything like a Heroic Spirit.

[She rolls her eyes and sighs.]

I just meant, it wasn't some grand delusion of shallow love that drove me to that point. I'm not really the type for that.

[babbylon]

I am returning to my quarters.

[...hopefully she wasn't expecting any meaningful discussion there. Gilgamesh comes and goes as he pleases, same as always.]

[sealeted]

Okay?

[Abrupt as ever, this willful, stormy king of hers...]

[babbylon]

...

[...]

...

[...]

You are coming with me, dullard.

[Geez.]

[sealeted]

Then say so.

[Geez.]

I'm not going to just assume that out of hand, you know?

[But, she does move to follow him all the same.]

[babbylon]

As if you've any other place to be.

[Some things change, and others stay exactly the same. Like that everlasting presumptuousness.]

I hope the reward for this was well worth the expense. These "fetch quests" are far beneath my standing.

[sealeted]

[She's not going to even touch that one.]

Well, it's for curing the virus. Other than that, more rewards are just a bonus.

[babbylon]

Hmph.

[Ultimately, Gilgamesh can't argue too much with it. He'd previously told Archer he had been seeking that cure on his personal time, so to deny his interest would be hypocritical—even for an already hypocritical man. It means he won't be touching that one, either.]

This war only worsens with time. As all wars do. And Noir's increasing desperation...

[It doesn't bode well for the future. He's not worried, but he's also not thrilled.]

[sealeted]

Yeah. They're starting to completely abandon conventional warfare.

[This, compared to the battle in Gammon, to the trains...]

Backing them into a corner has it's own perils.

[babbylon]

A cornered animal always bites.

[Always.]

...but you have evaded the worst of their fangs for now. This pleases me.

[sealeted]

Yeah. I'm good at survival, at least.

[She can say that with a bit more pride, now that she fights for herself, rather than putting her faith in a Servant.]

I'm glad you're okay too, Gilgamesh.

[babbylon]

...I did get bitten fairly severely...

[Behold, the face of a Gilgamesh shamelessly attempting to elicit attention.]

[sealeted]

I see...

[She frowns faintly.]

I'm sorry I wasn't there to help. I did my best to patch up everyone I could, but... well, some people required a lot more attention and mana than others, especially among the other members of the scouting party.

[babbylon]

Your friend Robin assisted me.

[sealeted]

He did?

[She perks up.]

He really worked hard, that day. Were you nicer to him, this time?

[babbylon]

He still breathes, does he not?

[Oh, Gil. You prankster.]

[sealeted]

Don't joke about that. ...please.

[Of the two of them here now, somebody has killed Robin at least three times. It feels wrong for somebody else to joke about it, if it isn't between her and the not-corpse in question.]

[babbylon]

Sentimental fool.

[But it's softly murmured and so could hardly be considered much of a criticism, especially not when he rounds the corner into his room and immediately pulls her to his side on the bed. Truly, whether that man lived or died made no difference to him—but if it soured her, he won't pick at the wound on purpose. Not this time.]

As to be expected from a woman at the wheel. He is that "rebellious" sort you bleeding hearts tend to like.

[Though it's a good sign he doesn't sound too snide. He's just letting off steam.]