#FGO fanfic

[otaku-tactician]

and here's chapter two of my Nagaizo smut fic! (18+). It's finally completed.

Main Plot: Serving as a sequel to the fanfiction Blossoms Upon the Battlefield, Izou wrangles with his developing feelings for a certain ultraviolent Oni Musashi. However, as they say- 'whatever one resists persists' - to the extent of his feelings for Mori becoming utterly unavoidable. Amidst an exhilarating spar, and the warm light of the moonlight, repressed feelings finally spill over.

Chapter Summary: Now that both of their feelings have finally been unleashed; blossoms bursting forth- the two warriors indulge in passions of the flesh, spending a wanton night under the warm night skies. Yet, even such a horny interlude is laden with precious, tender moments; vulnerability knocking Izou's sake cup over entirely.

Trigger Warnings: 18+ smut, swearing, mentions of death, blood and gore. Sexual content including frottage, nipple play, anal sex, fingering and mutual masturbation.

[borntobelime]

“”. A woman stepped out of the drift, tall and handsome, with dark eyes and darker hair. Her clothes were brightly dyed, cloaked in the myriad of autumn, a sharp contrast to the demure blues and grays of Artoria’s own wardrobe. Glass beads adorned both her neck and her wrists, trapped the outside sunlight and carried its reflection inside with her.

Once recovered from her surprise, Artoria spoke: “Greetings, Vivian. I appreciate your haste.” “”

Vivian from the fanfic We Three Kings

Written by nothing_is_beautiful_and_true

Plot : While her knights are out questing for the Holy Grail, Artoria stumbles across two gifts left behind by Merlin. If only she could figure out how to return them.

(Special thanks to @fate-inspiration for helping me a bit on the anatomy )

Here is also the lineart

[orchestrated-haunting]

Some College AU Headcannons

Diarmuid Ua Duibhne

A cultural anthropology major with a focus on what the knight archetype implies, and how its changes depending on the cultural implications.

Wore a face mask pre COVID-19 to cover his mole, and thanks to the pandemic it became more normalized for him to so.

He goes to parties if he knows one of his friends will be present, often playing drinking games with Fionn and Cu.

Flirts with his friends quite to the point outside observers can’t tell if it was platonic or romantic.

Cu Chuclainn

As irritating as it can be at times he enjoys being in veterinary school.

He fosters dogs and has had several foster fails. One of them being a small white fluffy dog that is a little bit crusty, (causing his friends to make jokes of him being a rich white mom who owns a yacht).

Tried taking his pals on fishing trips but the only one who would come after a few trips is Fionn.

Iskander

The big man enjoys his maps, so naturally he became a geography major who minored in classics.

He’s a part of the wresting team and his friends joke about burying their faces into his tiddies saying things such as “normalize friend group homoerotism”.

Iskander got very into strategy games, and his not so guilty pleasure game is the Fire Emblem series.

Waver

A freshmen history major who is very out of his element.

Ended up getting adopted by Iskander because he ended up accidently bumping into him checking his phone.

He’s honestly terrified of Iskander’s friends but he keeps getting dragged into their hangouts. He eventually develops a soft spot for all of them, and cried when some of them graduated.

Identifies as a part of the LGBTQ+ community but isn’t sure how to label it, whether in regards to gender or sexuality.

[typingdyslexiaisathing]

A Dazed Moment (Fate Grand Order) fic

content: The Servants are gathered at camp to make a hot pot for their two Masters and Mash to enjoy. But one particular Master is too zoned out to notice much. That is until a particular Servant gets their attention. Established relationships, casual talk, camping out, romance and fluff. Mature subjects of intimacy and making love.

Another random event Singularity. Another long Rayshift to another dense forest. Another day of fighting and collecting materials. Ritsuka Fujimaru and Mash seemed all too used to doing this kind of thing. But I doubted I ever would.

The base camp was little more than four tents and one thrown together wooden cottage in the middle of robust trees and a rushing river. The bug repellant super charged with magecraft to ensure none of them came anywhere near our base. Ritsuka and Mash were in the middle of a conference call with Chaldea HQ. While I sat by the fire to let Scathach bandage my left arm for me. Since I was too out of it to really complain to anyone. Archer was prepping a huge bowl of what I might guess to be hot pot for us. While both Lancer Cu and Caster Cu were currently absent. Probably to take Nursery Rhyme, Jack the Ripper, Fran, and Sieg to go try their hands at fishing again.

Scathach applied the healing salve to the deep rends in my arm to make sure I kept my fingers loose. Since I'd fallen down a steep incline and right into a bunch of broken up bits of a leftover tree stump. Granted, I had been busy using my own limited magecraft to shoot down several Marionettes that were quite adamant at decapitating me. The others also fighting for our lives just as vehemently as I was. Yet that didn't really do much for my already tattered self confidence and I was quite settled into my sullen daze.

Archer paused in his cooking to gaze at me as I stared into the fire. A frown soon crossing his lips as Scathach finished wrapping my arm for me. Her own stoic expression barely hinting at her concern as Archer spoke up. "Retha. You are the one that tends to point out there is victory to celebrate in just making it out of a fight still breathing. So there is little reason for you to look so defeated." I didn't answer as my gaze stayed to the flames that crackled and popped. Which was a telling thing as Scathach sighed with a patient warmth most wouldn't notice. But I did catch on to finally react and just carefully flex my fingers on both hands. A grunt of pain escaping before I spoke up. "You can do everything perfectly and still lose it all. That's life. But it still suckles at a rotted teat."

Archer dropped his knife he was using to peel vegetables with as Scatchach gave a tisk of scolding at me for my choice of words. Only for the sound of someone barking out into a laughing fit behind to signal that Lancer Cu was walking up to us. A deep part of me regaining my spark of color and warmth at the sound of his amusement. Actually seeing him though brought sunshine back into my vision for me to get my smile back. All while Lancer kept laughing to have that gorgeous smirk on his face. His eyes a roaring inferno of scarlet mirth and passion as he looked into my own eyes. Which had my insides melt as I felt the blush dust over my cheeks and nose. But I just reached up to wiggle my fingers at him as Scathach watched us with that wise and calculating gaze.

Lancer was more than happy to just saunter over and kneel down so he could scoop me up and into his frame in a spine crunching bear hug. Meaning I got squished into his almost naked frame to savor every sculpted muscle and toned parts of him. Which I was all too happy to do as he placed a playful bite to my nose in greeting. While Archer went back to his cooking as Lancer growled at me in warm delight. "The nippets send their best and will want to show off all the pretty shiny stones they found. So do look forward to that. We also have several rabbits and even a few wild turkeys to feast on." Archer muttered to note for our hearing with hinted at feigned annoyance, "You were supposed to bring back fish for me to use in the hot pot. Are you telling me none of you caught any fish?"

My smile doesn't waver as Scathach makes the point for me. "Caster is showing Mash and Ritsuka how to clean the fish. While the nippets are probably watching, braiding his ponytail again, or both." Lancer smirks at this for me to chuckle at the mental image of Caster getting used as a beauty model for the girls in the group to style his hair. Since his ponytail was only growing longer due to him overhearing how much I loved seeing him with long hair. So Archer rolled his eyes to go back to his cooking. While Lancer spun us around slowly to nuzzle his nose to my face a enjoy how close we were. "Besides. Someone prefers to have turkey over fish. Due to the fact they never had to eat fish of any kind while growing up and never found a fish they liked yet." I frowned as Archer raised an eyebrow at that news for me to grumble a bit. "Smooth move, dorko. I am more than okay with trying and or eating whatever Archer makes for us to eat and or snack on. Are you implying that our resident chef of legends isn't good at making something? I will gladly let Scathach sashimi you if that was what you were even so much as hinting at."

Lancer does get nervous enough to turn so his teacher is in sight so he can make an attempt at defending himself. But Scathach seems more interested in packing up the medical supplies she just used than following through on the implied threat I just made. Her beautiful stoic features a perfect sight to behold despite what little emotion in her eyes and other silent queues I was able to pick up on now. She was amused enough to let the threat linger as a possibility. If only to make Lancer uneasy as he held me a bit tighter. Which had me hum a few happy notations to then sneak a kiss to his cheek. The dead giveaway at the bluff for Lancer to chuff and growl in mock annoyance. "Methinks I should be highly annoyed with you, Retha. So much so that I should toss you into the river. Yet I think I will forgive you on one condition." I felt the desire burn over my sense when Lancer started nipping at my neck with gentle bites to my pulse and play growling at me through his teeth. My shudder sparking over every nerve as Scathach shook her head to then turn and head for the main camping tent. While Archer got a slight smile to pointedly avoid watching as Lancer lifted me off my feet and headed for the cottage. Since it was the designated sleeping slash mana exchange section of the camp. So I knew I wasn't going to be doing much walking after this. But I wasn't going to complain as I gave Lancer a very rich whisper against his ear. "Setanta. Leave me dazed for other reasons."

Lancer was more than happy to whisk us with all due speed right into the cottage to nudge the door closed with a foot. The magic lock snapping into place soon after for Lancer to just toss me into the air. His leotard gone in a blink for him to catch me and start his eager ministrations to getting me all riled up right along with him. The only attire still upon his frame being those earrings and the bond ring I had given him. Lancer used his clever hands to just slide my boots and socks off my feet before my hiking pants came off. His lips soon kissing at the tears in the corner of my eyes as he smirked at me. "Still a nervous and chaste lady I see. So sweet to hold to me and know in this you allow me to worship you proper. Such a good woman you are, Retha. My Master. A sarcastic and direct soul with sweet kindness and red plum tartness I adore."

My hiking coat and undershirt with the built in bra was soon on the floor for the cool air to prickle over my skin. Only for such to be banished as Lancer wrapped us both in a very thick fur blanket. Said fur blanket made from a Primal Lynx the size of a Chimera. Then we were on the cushioned mattress for Lancer to lay beneath me and just snuggle with me for a while. Soft traces of his hands and gentle touches of his lips to my skin to leave me shivering for completely different reasons. While my own hands stayed on his shoulders for me to be lost in the pure sensations of his foreplay. Heated breaths washing over skin as blood burned through veins. Until I was able to feel how our hearts were thundering against our sternums and ribcages for me to lose my restraint.

I wanted him. All of him. All for me. To know and feel nothing else but the now of being with him and making us a tangled melted union. He was so gorgeous and perfectly crafted in appearance and personality. I'd felt that searing attraction engulf me like I'd fallen up into the sun the second our eyes had met. Yet I had convinced myself in the next second he would not view me in the same way. I was slightly overweight and had a rather large port wine stain birthmark that covered my right shoulder and some of my neck. My hair was a dull hickory shade of brown with several streaks of white. Despite being only thirty-one years of age, I had issues with arthritis in my joints. Yet Lancer had instantly cornered me to swear his oaths of commitment to me. As my Servant and the chance of being my lover in turn. I had been so shocked at his boldness. Yet I found out why with time and many moments of loving care and joyful adoration. Lancer loved my every quirk and defining character trait. He savored how I cussed up a storm when I was still half asleep every morning. He delighted in how I openly cuddled with Fou any chance I got. His heart melted whenever I saw him and instantly got my smile back. He told me my eyes were the most perfect and glorious color of Nordic blue possible. He said how he had to lecture himself internally to not automatically grab me and rest his hands certain places.

We had fallen in love and just kept falling further into love. Which was the one thing that always knocked the air from my lungs. Such left me spinning without being able to float back up. Which happened again for Lancer to be hugging me tight as he rumbled in his ancient tongue against my face. My tears hot and making my eyes burn as I came back to the moment. My words hoarse and quaking with so much emotion. "Sorry... It just... How did I ever get to be yours? By what blessing did you find me to then choose me as yours? It feels like I stole priceless artwork and my hands are molded from mud." Lancer gave a bark of a laugh to then sigh into my skin. "Hah. You are so humble and meek sometimes. Here's the lass who openly berates Gilgamesh as an entitled brat and has zero hesitation to flip the enemy off with both hands. Yet here you are. So awed and terrified with misgivings. It's so... Beautiful."

Lancer rubbed his nose to mine before he hummed in pure love. "Retha. We have each other and I want to revel in such. Join me and let's let thinking go." So it was that my beloved warrior and bold heart began to trace pure bliss over my senses with his masterful talents. All else washing away as I gave in. To him. To us and what we are together. My mewls and squeaks sounding out along with his huff and growls of enjoyment. Heated sweat and hungry kisses having us taste the joys of the now. The oldest dance of divine joining to make love and be vulnerable in the give and take of pleasure and passion. A sacred act that was only for us in this moment of existence to hold as precious. My perfect blessing being the hero named Cu Chulainn. His wish upon the Grail fulfilled in me.

[cloversdreams]

Fandom: Fate/Grand Order Relationships: Charlemagne | Saber/James Moriarty | Ruler Summary:

Moriarty glared at the city below when he muttered, “What matters is convincing the wretched world that we are, in fact, together.”

“Speaking of, I had a bit of an idea about that,” Charlemagne hummed.

“Is that so?” Moriarty asked. He turned towards the other man and raised a curious eyebrow at him. “Do tell.”

“Selfies.”

“Selfies.” Moriarty repeated flatly.

“Yep. I think we should take and post them all the time. At the very least on every “date” we go on.” Charlemagne explained. “It will show our relationship naturally progressing. Then by the time the masquerade rolls around it will be undeniable that we’re serious about each other.”

“I see.” Moriarty said to himself. He rested a curled finger against his chin as he thought about it. “Not bad.” He paused briefly. “However, selfies aren’t exactly my area of expertise.”

“Don’t worry, that’s where I come in!” Charlemagne exclaimed. He walked over to the other man, held up his phone, and shouted, “New apartment selfie!” Then he immediately started to speak aloud what he was typing along with the image. “I’ve extended my stay for dot, dot, dot personal reasons!”

  happy gay people are real month

[has-gilgamesh-doneanythingwrong]

I saw requests are open was wondering if you wouldn't mind doing some NSFW head canon's for a soft dom Solomon x female master with dirty talk and foreplay. Also sorry if this is too many things but can you do NO penetrative sex please?

Hello anon, thanks for the request, that is perfectly okay! Sure, that's okay with me. So that's Solomon foreplay including dirty talk concept. I can do that. I hope you enjoy, and thanks for waiting for so long!! As for the Soft Dom part, that will focus on him giving a lot of praise and care to the master. I should warn you though, this may become full of angst, as well.

Warnings: 18+ NSFW Fanfic tagged as 'lemon fanfic'. Includes a lot of fluff and ANGST, soft dom(?) Solomon, FGO SPOILERS, dirty talk, fem! master character, outercourse and foreplay (no sex).

Solomon x Fem! Master NSFW (Foreplay, Soft Dom, Dirty Talk, A LOT OF ANGST!)

✰ Facing him at the apex of your journey; standing as two juxtaposing forces at the very precipice of the end, your meeting with Solomon is fraught with anticipation. With such a precious wreath of memories of his time fighting on behalf of the Chaldeas as Romani, to the lacerating pain that engulfed you with his final self-sacrifice.... to see him standing before you, right in the flesh- was like a dream.

✰ "I-is that really you...? Roma- Solomon?!" Rushing haphazardly through a mass of broken fragments floating lifelessly upon a realm that was unknown to either the world of man or gods- it stood an atelier that only you and he alone could access, cut off from the rest of the universe. Whether it was a dream, or possibly even a new reality was anybody's guess.

✰ As you gradually make your way towards him, crystallized tears frozen within the air; the solemn figure standing before you smiles wistfully as he turns to face you- his golden eyes burdened with a sense of suffering so deep and profound; carrying the truths of the world within their glistening depths.

✰ "...You've come a long way, to find me here; meeting me at the end of all realms of existence. If Romani was here, I'm sure he'd be glad." Within an instant, he materializes before you, his sun-kissed bronze hands lightly tracing themselves across your face, his expression taking on an unreadable hue. "Even if it was only for a short period of time, I was able to live as a human by your side. Thank you, Master of Chaldea."

✰ Bursting into tears at his words, you wrap your arms around him as your faces draw but a hair's breadth away from one another, breath misting upon another's faces as he gently wipes away your tears, kneeling down to support your fallen form. Though he reassures you that there's no need to cry, you can't help but wail, inconsolable gasps rippling through your body, as you press your forehead to his, desperate to rekindle any form of connection, to feel any sign of warmth.

✰ Romani, Solomon. You him, Mash and Da Vinci. The benevolent Doctor of Chaldea who had been a loveable goof, a massive Magi Mari simp and an invaluable ally to all... no, he was even more than just that to you. He was the one you held dear to your heart, committing every memory, every moment of his existence to mind. But now for you both to meet like this...it was certain that this was likely to be the last time you'd be able to hold onto him for a while.

✰ It seems as if Solomon is acutely aware of this as well. Despite seeming distant- as if the version of him you grew to love and adore in Chaldea is no more- his grip has yet to be loosened from your figure, his flowing locks of flaxen hair tickling your face. As his fingers absentmindedly rub circles into your cheeks, almost on instinct; his body recalling the movements of a part of him that may now possibly cease to exist.

✰ Taken aback by his familiar touch, and the nostalgia of having your chests pressed against one another; hearts beating in unison, you open your mouth to speak, to beg for him to return in some way, only for him to sadly shake his head.

✰ "My return isn't currently prophecies within the stars as of yet. However," He pauses, as his gleaming, ring-laden hands softly trace themselves over your lips, a tender hue entering his eyes, "If you are to oblige, then let me touch you. Let me feel you one last time, and embrace you like I did as when I was a human. Roman- no, I... I wish to commit how it felt to be with you to my mind, for one last final time." Although his words are resolute, his fingers tremble slightly, as his nonchalant mask finally begins to crumble.

✰ Lips locking in what feels like forever, the kiss is tender yet also bittersweet; the two of you savoring every moment, hungrily gasping for more as your form blossoms beneath him, kisses trailing down your neck, your eyes misting with a sense of longing. Oh how long it had been since the last time you had kissed! How deeply you craved for more!

✰ "You're beautiful. Sprawled before me with such need in your eyes... he surely must've felt blessed to have been by your side." Despite the indomitable nature of his words, his touch becomes even gentler; sinking down to fully embrace you as his robes flutter against the ground, spread out like a canopy of ancient paintings.

✰ Holding onto your waist for dear life, the two of you become entangled within a passionate cuddle; your limbs entwined between one another's as he begins to grind against you. As you whimper with bliss at how delectable it feels- and at how unfair it was to be delighting in a warmth that would soon be ripped from you, eventually to become naught but a fleeting memory; tears prickle at your eyes as you pull him back in to a passionate smooch, breaths quickening from the action.

✰ Mewling his name repeatedly- like a solemn prayer to the heavens- your body completely yields to his addictive touch, that tickles and rubs against your most vulnerable zones. You cared for him, yearned for him- so, so much. Desperately avoiding even spending a fraction of a second apart, your entire body clings onto his form as you warble words that bleed with love.

✰ "That's right. Hold on even tighter, so tightly that it becomes impossible to let go. Let me feel you in your entirety." He's also been entirely consumed by the moment, losing beneath tidal waves of passion, as well as ones of heart-wrenching melancholy.

✰ Continuing to rub his body against yours in a soothing circular motion, Solomon parts from by sucking onto your bottom lips as his gaze locks into yours- it's so deep and profound that it leaves you trapped, unable to look away.

✰ By this time, you're a sweaty mess- Chaldea uniform all crumpled, as your body fills with electrical tremors of desire, tingling with pleasure. To Solomon, such a sight is alluring- though a twinge of something so forlorn (that even he can't quite grasp it) lacerates his heart at seeing you so laid so emotionally bare before him.

✰ "...Despite overcoming numerous hurdles, you are still so precious, so fragile a human. Romani- I- no, I'm sorry that I was unable to see things through with you until the very end. I... I love... you." Sealing his hesitant vow with lips that softly regaled your forehead, your eyelids; every facet of your face, loose tears make their way down his face, his once steely golden eyes now a pool of melting amber.

What a sorrowful finale this was turning out to be.

[re-re-redline]

What Lies Beyond Myriad Leagues

>>Chapter One: The One Where He Dies and You Meet Him a Century Later<<

Series Summary: At one point in time in a distant place, there is a group of folks sitting in a dojo discussing how they’d all make history and bring peace. These people would go on to be lifelong friends and the next few years would be ones filled with all kinds of dramatics. The kind that would be spoken of for decades to come. One such person, while dropping out early in the group’s tale of legend, was perhaps the earliest sign that things weren’t quite right with those people.

At another point in time, someone goes back to right a wrong. Things have gotten out of hand and it’s time to apologize. But words aren’t enough. There is nothing that can be said to alleviate anything. Instead, what is needed is action. Cold hard and clinical action. That’s the only way to make things right.

And finally, in the ‘present’ some goober is tossing pop rocks at a circle in hopes of reeling in yet another one of their favorite peacekeepers.

Warnings: Sannan dies at the very start but it’s not described in detail, one singular mention of beheading, a floor is punched. No beta we die like Sannan.

Foreword: Hey, hey! Some of you might recognize this, and props if you do because this was my first fanfic ever. BUT! For those of you who have read that pile of cringe on my Ao3 (it’s RedliningFrequency, by the way) then you will be happy to know that this is actually a remaster. Yes, I am redoing this and I have taken quite a bit of time planning this out and, AND I have gotten better as a writer. Honestly, I should have started writing headcanons first instead of trying to go for a slow burn, but fuck it we ball. The original is not gone and it will never be gone since it’s my history and it shows how much better I’ve gotten. So go read that if you want, but I don’t recommend it.

Anywho, this is the first chapter remaster of WLBML. Please enjoy.

Date: 2nd year of Genji (1865), March 20th.

Location: Maekawa Estate, Mibu Village in Kyoto.

Time: Early morning.

“Ah… A fine morning today, too.”

Please picture, if you will, two evenly spaced horizontal lines within a rectangle. Now picture a single vertical line just right of the middle of the shape. The gaps between make up what little of the world a certain gentleman can see in this small room.

The view from the lattice is quite picturesque. It’s the kind you’d see a painting of at your local museum, drawn by someone you’ll never have the chance of meeting. It had that rosy pink to a golden yellow to a deep blue gradient, with the remaining stars holding out as the sun slowly rises over the horizon. The canopies of several trees and bushes alike rustle softly to an unheard rhythm, with birdsong and distant chatter harmonizing as the lead. All flowers, weeds too, were dotted with a tear’s worth of dew. Their glistening paired nicely with the shimmering of the pond nearby. In agreement with the gentlemen, let it be said once more: this is a fine spring morning.

That in mind, the world outside is of little import as the person viewing this scene is the subject of observation today. Just who is this man and what is he doing here?

Locked within a room in the Maekawa Estate stands a gentleman admiring nature as he always does, but today’s feel is different this time. Such a thing can be credited to the current circumstances, but that’s for later.

From the Sendai Domain of the Mutsu Province, born on February the 5th of 1833, is a one Yamanami Keisuke, the Secretary General of the Shinsengumi. He’s 169 centimeters tall—or 5 feet and 6 inches—and underneath those layers is a lean and toned form that even the straightest of lines can say is appealing. But above ground, his round edges and soft smile, along with those lavender colored eyes made for a rather disarming appearance compared to his contemporaries in the Shinsengumi. He looks like the person many would refer you to when you need someone to listen to and take advice from. It’s an impression lacking judgement yet carrying the same amount of wisdom a person who presides over trials would have. A mien of kindness and understanding, if you will.

To many it sounds too good to be true, and no one would fault you for thinking that way. Even the man himself doesn’t blame you for it either, not with the company he keeps. But unlike those who covet such a way of being for their deceptions, Yamanami Keisuke is almost exactly as he looks. It’s how he is, always has been and always will be. This sincere and good natured character is known and beloved among children and adults alike in Mibu for this reason.

With a rap sheet like this—or lack thereof rather—one has to wonder what a gentle man like him is doing locked in this small room. The answer is not pretty. He committed a crime, a crime only punishable by committing seppuku. The crime of desertion.

It started a few days ago, when he left to go somewhere without permission and without telling anyone. His lack of intention to return to his post made clear by the note he graciously left behind, the only indication as to his departure aside from his absence. The response from his senior comrades was to send one singular person to pursue him, his dear friend. After a small chat in the place he was resting at, he went quietly back to the Maekawa Estate and went quietly still to this small room after he was sentenced. He had even changed to the proper ritual attire beforehand to make sure that no one couldn’t say he wasn’t serious about this. That’s the how of this situation, but not the why. Yamanami never did tell anyone such when he was asked, he just stated that he deserted and that’s the end of it. His full and complete reasoning is something that will remain a mystery to his contemporaries and further still in historical record.

But right here, right now is a gentleman enjoying nature as much as he can before his time comes. A bird lands on one of the lines of the lattice, it’s feathers shimmering a deep shade of blue. He greets his guest warmly like he does any person, even striking a conversation. Silly as it may sound, the blue bird’s company was more welcome than the uninvited guests that came late yesterday, as the bird now perched on his finger isn’t attempting to persuade him to flee.

Speaking of guests, what happens next may or may not have occurred, but it should be mentioned.

Somewhere, not too far from this specific lattice window, is a young lady running as fast as her feet can carry her. Not a single thought was put to where her shoes landed, only the action of moving at all was on her mind. This caused her to trip and stumble several times, staining her clothes with mud, grass, and dew. The poor girl had even fallen into a duck pond at some point, rendering her soaking wet and cold. Not that she cared, of course. There was something much more important than tomorrow’s illness, and it was right behind that specific lattice window.

The blue bird, sensing the young lady’s incoming presence, took its leave and what followed was a familiar face. Her appearance was a complete mess to say the least, something that a lady of her profession would never be caught dead with. Even then, even with the mud, grass and dew, the loose unbrushed hair, and the tear stains on her cheeks—even then to Yamanami she looked beautiful. How couldn’t she be? This is Akesato, his beloved, and that hasn’t changed.

Gripping the lattice, Akesato tries her hardest to understand the situation and implores Yamanami to tell her, only to find no answers. He simply reaches through the gaps and cups her cheek, brushing away the salt and bits of dirt. She leans into his warm touch and what comfort the action may have provided was overshadowed by the knowledge that she may never receive this gentle affection from him ever again. More tears fall and Yamanami could only stand there and watch as the woman he loves pours her heart out to him unfiltered. He could do the same, tell her his deep love for her and how sorry he is that he has to leave her like this… But that would only hurt the poor girl more. There is nothing he can say to make this any better and he knows it. He brought this upon himself and this moment at the window with his beloved must be fate showing him the consequences of his selfish actions. Thus, in an act that could only seem uncharacteristically cruel, Yamanami retracts his hand slowly… And shuts the shoji in front of the window.

A young lady’s sobs can be heard clearly from the other side, but with enough focus they fade away. He had already hurt her by going through with it, the least he can do is to end it now with a paper screen instead of letting Akesato watch him leave. It’s for the best, he thinks.

If such an event did occur with a woman named Akesato, there’s dubious evidence of such.

He lies down on the floor and the first thing that comes to mind is that place, one he finds himself struggling to recall yet yearns for. Yamanami tries his best to reach into the dusty corners of his mind for any threads to grasp, anything that can put his train of thought to remembering that special place. But he comes up empty handed. What does come to mind is a dojo that never saw a moment of peace, a group of friends discussing their heroes and how they’d go about emulating them, drinking after a long day of teaching swordplay, smelly takuan in the summer, a leader boisterously regaling his favorite war stories whenever anyone asked… Those memories came up instead.

Yamanami couldn’t help but feel his stomach turn. Two years. Two whole years of being away and he had already lost his grip on that place. Streets and homes turned into a blur, the layout changing the harder he thinks on it, the foliage not quite right but also not wrong either. It’s as though his memories of that place were behind thick frosted glass. Colors and shapes melting together into something familiar yet unrecognizable.

The gentleman turns to lay on his side, curling into himself just enough to provide self comfort but not enough to look weak. He crosses his arms in a pseudo self hug and he suppresses a shiver threatening to crawl up his spine. Despite the room being empty save for himself and the window being covered, the feeling of being watched—being judged sat firmly in a spiky mass behind his sternum. Yamanami shuts his eyes in an attempt to will that feeling away.

How amazing it was, in a completely disturbing sense, how a pair of years can carve themselves a place in your skull. How two years can be remembered with such clarity at the cost of much before it. What was lost cannot be returned or amended, and he has no one but himself and his friends to blame for that. Himself for falling into something so idealistic, and his friends for a whole laundry list of reasons that he doesn’t want to think about now. If there were an opportunity to change things, go back and right wrongs then Yamanami would certainly take it. He has one of the larger shares of responsibility, after all. He’d be a worse man if he didn’t try, at the very least.

If everyone had their heads so firmly lodged into the clouds so as to ignore his pleas, then so be it. Those are their sins on their backs, it’s up to them to salvage the situation and change paths. Assuming they even have an iota of the guilt he carries, of course. Knowing them, they’ll probably run themselves into the ground and somehow take every poor person in the area with them. On accident, of course. Bad outcomes are never caused by anyone specifically, they’re just a thing that happens without warning. Such a way of thinking a symptom of an inflated ego and excellent acoustics. Deaf ears and twitching fingers, itching to point at another to save their own—

A sharp pain shoots up his right arm. Yamanami had been digging his fingernails into the white sleeves of his clothes in bitter resentment, much to his own surprise. He sighs and lays on his back, gently rubbing the spot where that tender scar would be under the fabric. Resentment wasn’t something Yamanami considered himself to be capable of until recently, and despite knowing that those kinds of feelings resided in his chest, he still disbelieved their existence. This made it harder to reconcile with the fact that he was well on his way to mentally cussing out the people he called friends. That bitterness was an odd feeling paired with a subsequent melancholy, how did things end up this way? How did he go from learning swordplay and teaching it to laying on the floor of this cell, awaiting his death? What happened?

Yamanami isn’t given any time to contemplate such questions as the sliding door opens swiftly, a small gust of cold wind dispersing into the small space. In the doorway was an unmistakable head of strawberry blonde hair tied up into a ponytail. Her expression was flat and unreadable. Much like the shapes of clouds, it’s anyone’s guess as to what the First Unit Captain of the Shinsengumi is feeling at this moment in time. Okita doesn’t say a word, simply choosing to nod her head to the side as a silent command for Yamanami to get up.

“…Good morning to you as well, Okita-kun.”

He wastes no time getting up, there isn’t a point to try to run away now or push this back. These are the consequences to his actions and unlike his contemporaries, he’ll take them with poise. Someone has to, and he hopes that there will be something to learn from this.

Yamanami follows Okita for what seemed like an eternity, the length of time almost had him suspicious but that feeling was nulled after she had slid open a door to a room that was empty save for a plate hosting a blade on a white mat in the middle of the room. …Plus a few familiar faces, of course. She turns to face him and pauses for a moment before once again nodding her head in the direction of the doorway. The gentleman steps in and walks to the mat, kneeling to the floor and straightening his posture. Okita followed him in and quietly shut the door. Instead of standing behind him to get this over with like he thought she would, Okita sat down in front of him.

And for the first time since they had set off from Otsu back to Mibu, she spoke.

“…Kondo-san told me about your request. Are you sure you want to do this, Yamanami-san?”

The way Okita spoke would be unnerving to anyone who wasn’t acquainted with her beforehand. Her voice was entirely devoid of any feeling but sharper than a knife. No specific cadence, no slurring of words or stutters: just a flat pair of sentences that cut straight to the point. Even her question sounded like it had a period at the end. But Yamanami had known this woman for long enough to be used to that neutral tone, so it doesn’t scare him like it does everyone else.

…Okita doesn’t scare him like she does everyone else.

The man smiled and responded lightly, as if this were just another morning for the two.

“I’m sure. I’m just sorry to put this onto your shoulders, Okita-kun. Haha… I guess I’ve been making trouble for you all a while now, haven’t I?”

“…………”

Okita didn’t say anything or move at all. But Yamanami could swear that those steel eyes of hers darkened for a split second. While not the most perceptive when it came to the feelings of others, Okita Souji wasn’t dense and he knew that. She probably had already figured out that he was forcing his smile and laughter. But what did it matter? These are his final moments. He can spend them acting however he pleases.

Okita breaks the uncomfortable silence herself with that same cold tone.

“Why didn’t you just run away back then, Yamanami-san?”

There it was, one of the many questions surrounding him. Why didn’t he take off when she entered the room he was staying in? Why didn’t Yamanami Keisuke run for his life upon seeing that it was Okita Souji pursuing him? Why?

His response would give nothing away. It’s an answer to the question presented, but one that doesn’t necessarily satisfy curiosity. He’d take the truth of his feelings to the grave and leave this mystery hanging overhead like a cloud of miasma. A small parting gift left behind from an old friend, or perhaps more accurately a teaching moment. But that then begs the question as to what that lesson even is. To find that out, they would have to look back critically and look inward with that same scrutiny.

Which would never happen, obviously.

“Hahaha, you know as well as I do that there was no way I could ever escape from you. I’m a slow runner, and my meager sword skills can’t even hope to compare to a genius like you.”

Had it not been for his mild mannered personality, the underlying bitterness could have seeped through in a more apparent way. But Yamanami Keisuke isn’t one to express these things in such an obvious manner, it had to be subtle or he’d lose his temper and with that the argument.

It was petty to level these kinds of shots at the person who was going to put him out of his misery and he knew that, but Yamanami just couldn’t help it. These emotions had been boiling under the surface for what he felt was over a decade, kept firmly under lock and key to not upset the already shaky balance of everything around him. But such expectations weren’t fair. Not for him nor for anyone else.

Okita’s jaw clenched, the only visible sign this whole conversation that she felt some kind of way about anything. It was a small comfort to know that she was, in fact, listening to him, even if it was just surface level.

“I have to say, it was downright cruel of Hijikata-san and Kondo-kun to send you after me.”

It took less than half of a second after he finished for Okita to slam her hand down on the floor, her fist trembling from either pain or anger.

“You didn’t have to stay! I told you it was okay to run! Hijikata-san, Kondo-san—everyone would’ve been fine with it!”

It seems that her neutrality throughout these past few days was just a cover up for what lied beneath the surface, pain. She had never wanted to bring him back to Mibu, never wanted to chase him all the way to Otsu in the first place. If she could, if Kondo and Hijikata let her, then she would have never gone in the first place. If Yamanami hadn’t insisted on following her when she turned to leave his room after discovering him, then she would have walked back to Mibu alone and lied to the Commander and Vice Commander about the Secretary General’s whereabouts, leaving it at that. But that’s not what happened.

Okita Souji didn’t want to do any of this. For all of her frigid actions, all of her tone deaf and borderline insane remarks, Okita has a heart. A big enough heart to play with the temple children, big enough to see him whenever she could these days, big enough to smile for everyone’s sake and big enough to accept his request for her to be his kaishakunin. And Yamanami felt horrible for forgetting that.

Okita didn’t deserve to be on the receiving end of his passive aggression. He just couldn’t stay mad at her regardless of him knowing just how inhuman she can be sometimes. And with that thought, most of the bitter taste in his mouth had left him. …At least when he looked at her, the other people in the room on the other hand…not so much. After all, Okita was the only person who spoke to him. Everyone else was just sitting in silence, almost as if they all had placed their hope in the First Unit Captain to persuade Yamanami to call this off. If she couldn’t do it, then no one can, so why bother trying yourself?

Yamanami could feel his fingers twitch as he maintained that casual and soft veneer.

“That’s why I didn’t try to run. I’ve no doubt Hijikata-san had already taken all that into consideration.”

With the same intensity as before, Okita jumped in.

“But I would’ve let you go! All you had to do was run away!”

Yamanami sighs, the smile he had pinned to his face finally falls off and his lips relax into a line. His expression wasn’t angry or even sad, just exhausted. He zeroes in on the woman in front of him and, for her sake only, decides to pull the curtain aside just a little.

Only a little.

“...Maybe you're right. Maybe I could have made it back to Edo if I'd just kept running.”

“…………”

“I don't know how else to explain it. All I can say is… I just didn't know anymore.”

“…………”

What ever propelled Okita to speak her mind with such intensity had sank down back to the crevice it was stored in beforehand, thus giving Yamanami time to think about how he wanted to clarify what he had meant. Ultimately, he settles for dropping off one piece of the puzzle. It wasn’t nearly enough to encapsulate the special kind of hell he had gone through, but maybe it was enough to at least give his friend some closure. She deserves that much for putting up with him all this time.

“Ever since I left Edo for the capital and helped form the Shinsengumi, I’ve been running around frantically under Kondo’s command.”

“…………”

“Running here, running there, back and forth and near and far…”

“…………”

“Then one day… I stopped and looked back.”

“Yamanami-san…”

The words of a young woman with tied up black hair and jade colored attire come to his mind. It was those words, those few words that were said not knowing just how utterly profound they were that pulled him out of the pit Yamanami himself and seemingly the world had dug him. It gave him the motivation to do something, anything to change and he couldn’t thank Akesato enough for it. …Even though it was what led to this outcome.

He continues.

“That was when my fate was sealed. From then on, all I could think about was my old life in the hometown I left behind. And before I knew what I was doing, I’d already left the base.”

That special place he had longed to return to, his home, was hidden behind a solid pane of frosted glass. Yet he yearned to go back. To go back to a time when he was just a kenjutsu instructor’s son and nothing more. To go back to a time when he was learning Hokushin Itto-ryu under Chiba-sensei. To go back to a simpler time where he could take a walk outside whenever he felt like it. That was what he yearned for the moment Akesato had flippantly told him her sage wisdom.

…But that was simply one piece of a larger puzzle. There are many other reasons why he’s sitting here on his knees. Reasons he patently refuses to speak of, let alone allude to the existence of. He wasn’t going to give neither Okita nor anyone else in the room any further insight on what was on his mind.

Yamanami tugs a small but genuine smile onto his lips, his lavender gaze softening significantly. He speaks once more.

“Now… Go on. It’s time for me to go.”

What happened next need not be recounted here, just know that Yamanami’s seppuku was flawless and Okita had struck his neck correctly, allowing his head to fall into his hands as it should. An honorable death for an honorable man, completely shrouded in mystery until this very day.

But this moment in time would not be the last the world would see of Yamanami Keisuke. It’s just the ending of the first book in an infinite series of volumes spanning across time and space, such is the nature of servants as you know.

One such volume takes place on an earth as white as snow and in an island with an undefined location, The Wandering Sea. Humanity’s remnants, known best as the stargazers of Chaldea, thrive in their new home and fight constantly to stay afloat in this paper colored nightmare. The most notable—or perhaps notorious may be the better word—individual has awakened at the crack of dawn for a very special reason.

Why don’t we look at what’s going on in Novum Chaldea at this humble hour?

Date: Unknown, Sometime in 2019.

Location: Summoning Room, Novum Chaldea.

Time: Dawn.

“600 SQ… 1 card with several important signatures and… Duh, duh, duh… 8 pages of Chinese poetry that Jing Ke recommended and helped me copy… An imitation talisman based off ones that the temple he was buried at made… A poem he wrote… Annnnd… Cherry dango.”

You clapped your hands with a strong feeling of accomplishment. Getting these catalysts and the SQ, while not the worst experience, wasn’t an easy task. Especially learning scuffed calligraphy with Jing Ke. Over five hours of careful movement and it STILL looked awful. Thankfully your assassin friend had done 3 pages herself thus making this set not completely terrible.

Regardless, you had awakened just before sunrise to set into motion the final phase of your ritual for bringing into this plane a new servant for your roster. He was a gentleman you had your eye on for sometime now, not because he was a game changer or anything of the sort, but because he was a part of a promise that you had made to one of your closest friends. This meant that you had to go all in and put your heart into this summoning, lest you fail to keep your promise. And failing to keep promises is one of the Cardinal Atrocities for a hero, making this stuff really serious!

“Mhm, mhm. Everything’s all here. Now I just need to set everything into place.”

You began by drawing a diamond around the summoning circle with chalk, then a square. It wasn’t the best but it’ll do. You drew circles on the corners of the shapes and erased the excess lines within. This, in theory, made an extension to the summoning circle already in place and allowed you to add the poetry as a catalyst to the ritual. But that wasn’t all that you brought. You then drew four vertical lines onto where the chalk line of the diamond was closest to the circle.

You took a few steps back to gaze upon your work and decide what should go where. The pages were already accounted for but what of the dango, talisman, card and his poem?

You placed your hand on your chin and thought back to the previous times you had pulled out all the stops like this in the past and found that the items that were closest to the door were the ones that were likeliest to be consumed for a successful summon. That made sense since the servant would be more likely to pick up the presence of an item in front of them and not behind. So to increase the chances of this working out, you’d have to place the important catalysts on the two lines closest to the door. This begs the question, which of these four catalysts are the most important and most likely to pull this guy in?

The card was the first one that came to mind as it was the one that undeniably had the most love put into it. The idea came to you after a regrettably long drought of ideas and you had decided to settle for a folded page of card stock with the signatures of everyone who wanted him to join Chaldea. There were, as expected, several signatures from the GudaGuda Gang (or the Boiler Room Besties if you’ve spent too much time with Suzuka and Nagiko) and surprisingly the Round Table as well. Arthur and Artoria were happy to hear that you were summoning another Shinsengumi member since it would be an assured addition to the ranks of the Chaldea Police Department. The two had also felt it was right to pitch in themselves since it was the Shinsengumi who had started the CPD in the first place. Thus the Round Table Knights all added their signatures to the card in hopes of bringing in that certain someone.

After all of that, you had gone through and looked at the signatures, noticing that one person was missing from the count. Okita hadn’t given hers yet and she was one of the closest people to him. …If the history books are correct, of course. You had gone to her and Okita stated that she was just waiting to see how much space was left for her to write a little something in addition to her signature. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much left for even her name, but you were nothing if not a problem solver. You gave Okita a sheet of printer paper and told her to write as much as she wanted and that you’ll fold the paper and tape it to the inside of the card when she’s finished. Okita gladly snatched it from you and took off to write her piece which would end up covering the entire page in what you believed to be heartfelt words of beckoning. Upon receiving it, you immediately folded it and went to go tape it in.

With all that, it made sense that it’s position was to be in the front. But that now left the question as to the other space. Rattling your skull for answers, you found yourself leaning towards the dango. Hajime had told you a while ago that Okita had always dragged the person in question to go get sweets whenever they went on patrol together. And when you asked Okita yourself, she stated that anytime that she did get sweets with him was purely coincidence and ‘that Shabbysengumi’ was ‘clearly lying.’ And Hijikata stated that he just likes them. With all that in mind, you suspected that the connection with Okita might make this one the better pick.

“Yeah… Those two are directly related to her, so they’ve gotta be in the front. And the back two’s positions don’t really matter, so I can put both wherever.”

Now that you had all of the positions for each of the catalysts mapped out, it was time to set the stage for real. Pages on each of the smaller circles, card and dango on the frontmost lines with the other two being put in the back. Once they were all in place, you retrieved the saint quartz you needed for this first 10 pull and set them down in a row in front of you. The second you laid the 30th quartz on the floor, the summoning circle came to life.

The scraggly chalk lines straightened immediately, forming a perfect diamond and square, the catalysts presented accepted into the mix as seen by the writing forming along the perimeter of the chalk. You run to stand before the circle and change your stance to one that you were sure looked pretty cool and raised your dominant hand to the ceiling, index finger pointing to the sky and began uttering the words that will finalize the ritual, thus bringing this man into your reality.

“From the vast oceans interspersed between planes of endless white, I cast my hand into the void…”

The catalysts fizzle out into shimmers of light to form the spheres that would circle into three bands of pure brightness. This was a good start but the results were not set in stone just yet. You raise your voice, hoping that someone was listening.

“I know not if any would hear my pleas, but my hope will manifest the desired answer!”

Flaxen sparks begin to fly, and the lights of the summoning circle shift to a bright gold. This could be it, your will may very well have brought you fortune. …But it’s still not over yet! You begin shouting.

“Come to me! Come from your place in the unknown and stand by my side!”

Every light in the room converges into a singular point, dying all corners a perfect shade of black and blinding you with every color on the spectrum. The sight, no matter how many times you saw it, was utterly sublime, and it filled your heart with equal parts hope and equal parts fear. You instinctively shut your eyes and drop to the floor, crouching to gingerly touch the chalk line. Your head lowered and gaze cast to the ground.

You call out one last time, but softly.

“…Saber.”

From that point in space, a gold card materialized and swiftly floated to your hand. The ornate design of a Saber peeled back to reveal…

“Shinsengumi’s Secretary General, Yamanami Keisuke. I have come in answer to your summons.”

You whip your head to look up at the gentleman, only to find him crouching to meet you at eye level. A pair of lavender irises gaze at you softly through brown frames, his lips forming a small smile.

“As inept as I may be, I shall serve you with all the strength and spirit I have.”

Where to even begin with his appearance? His hair tied up in that indescribable and neat style, those glasses, his outfit and the color palette, that glove on his right hand… Agh, no matter where you look it seemed like every part of him deserved a great amount of attention. It was an equilibrium bordering on splendid yet it was more down to earth than anything. It was a paradox of sorts that you were all too happy to gaze into.

…A little too happy since you seemed to be missing the fact that Yamanami was speaking.

“I ask that you take good care of me.”

Maybe it was the dimness of the room, maybe it was the euphoria of your silly ritual actually working for once… But the only thing that you could think of was—

“…Just as beautiful as the day I lost you. Maybe even more.”

Yamanami blinked in shock, his face quickly reddening. He takes a moment presumably to recalibrate and he sputters at an almost inaudible volume.

“Could you… Could you repeat that, please?”

With that, you snapped back to reality. First impressions were always the most important, as you know, and right now your ‘first impression’ is warranting an HR complaint. Thus, using your famed quick decision making, you spring up to your feet and do what comes naturally to a hero like yourself.

You strike an entirely unnecessary pose and talk at an elevated volume.

“Aha! Welcome, welcome, welcome! Welcome to Chaldea! Er, Novum Chaldea. More on that later. But welcome.”

You place a hand to your chest as Yamanami stands up.

“I’m your master, as well as pretty much every other servant’s too. I look forward to getting along with you, Yamanami-san!”

You stick out your hand for a handshake but it seems he had already taken to bowing. This prompted you to switch gears to do the same. …Only to find that he had the same thought and stuck his hand out to meet yours. …Which wasn’t there.

In an effort to will away the embarrassment, you managed to utter in a comically strained voice:

“Both?”

Yamanami gave what you assumed to be a lighthearted chuckle.

“Sure. Both.”

You both took each other’s hand, gave it a shake and bowed at the same time for a compromise. Not your best introduction, but it’ll do. At least he’s not asking about what you said earlier…

You thought back to what the Shinsengumi had told you about Yamanami during your last meeting together. He’s a really smart guy who’s quick on the uptake and can, for the most part, handle his own pretty well: both in and out of battle. Hijikata told you to not sugarcoat things if you can help it, as it’ll ‘piss him off for some reason.’ Hajime said that he’s pretty fierce when he needs to be and to ‘not get on his bad side.’ Oki, on the other hand, reassured you that he’ll warm up to you real quick. Why? Well…

“Don’t listen to Hijikata-san and Saito-san. Yamanami-san is the nicest guy you will ever meet! Besides, even if he somehow wasn’t… Well, you’d still get along with him just fine. You’re you, and he’ll warm up to you fast because of that. …Just trust me on this.”

You knew him to be kind from the first Yamataikoku incident and you two did get along well then. Plus he’s the same guy, so that helps. Really, there wasn’t anything to be worried about. Okita knew him best, so… Better get straight to the point.

You sigh and let down the proverbial shutter a smidge.

“Alright… Now that we’ve introduced ourselves, I think you’d like it best if I just cut straight to the point. Yamanami-san… How much do you know about the current state of affairs in the world?”

His expression turned serious and he spoke without hesitation.

“Not very much aside from the fact that the world has essentially ended.”

You nod.

“Eh, yeah that’s what I figured. You’d think the Throne would be better about these kinds of things…”

You take a step aside and a few steps away towards the door, stopping to gesture for him to step off the circle.

“But this room is waaaay too stuffy for that kind of recap, so here. Follow me and we’ll take this somewhere less dark.”

“As you wish, Master-san.”

Yamanami steps off the summoning circle, making his way over to you and the moment his other sandal touches the floor, the summoning circle starts back up again. Turns out you completely forgot that this was a ten pull.

“Shoot!”

You sprint past your new friend and—in your attempt to be the professional baseball player you aren’t—slide to the circle and punch the floor on your way down. Congrats, you stole second base AND your dominant hand really hurts! To commemorate your excellent move, the bands of light stopped in their tracks and a bunch of cards shot out from the mess of photons. As you lay on the floor attempting to not show that the consequences of your actions are affecting you, the cards fall to your hand and you can get a good look at what your first ten pull net you.

“Ah! Master-san, are you alright?”

Or that would have been the case if you were alone. Before you knew it Yamanami had crouched down again to meet you at your level, his gloved and gloveless hand holding yours. All 10 cards disappear into the ether, leaving their contents a mystery. But the temporary loss of knowledge didn’t phase you, let alone register in your mind as the feeling of this man’s hands on yours was slowing down your processing power. The softness of his hands on yours was surprising since you thought that it’d be more rough considering his profession, but very welcome too as the warmth almost made the pain go away.

Hm, maybe you should punch floors more often…

“Why on earth did you do that? Master-san, you could have broken your hand!”

You blinked your way out of the fuzzy feeling enveloping you and gave the most sensible response you could give.

“Oh, that? That was a secret magus technique designed to accelerate the summoning process by 300%! …As well as ensure our safety.”

Yamanami furrowed his brows and tilted his head in confusion. …Which was exactly the reaction you needed.

You rise to your feet and extend your other not-hurting hand to help him up, and you promptly elaborate on the well placed cliffhanger.

“You see… The ground you walk on is much, MUCH more dangerous than you think! I’m sure you’ve heard from the Throne, but mimics aren’t just chests or pianos, you know.”

You cross your arms and chuckle.

“They can also appear as a section of the floor! And in a room like this one, where magical energy tends to spike, a mimic could materialize here and be lying in wait! Thus it is especially important to occasionally punch the floor to smoke them out.”

You hold out a hand to complete…whatever it is you think you’re doing.

“See? There is a perfectly reasonable reason why I punched the floor. Hehe… My genius knows no bounds!”

Yamanami gazed at you for but a moment, his purple eyes looking at you with what you assumed to be healthy skepticism. You don’t blame him since the whole mimic thing was absurd from the word go, but you were at least thankful that he didn’t shoot you down immediately after you stopped talking.

That small gap in time gave way to a chuckle on his end, which made you sigh in relief on the inside. You were by no means the most proficient liar, but you were bar none the best comedian when it came to disguising your shortcomings. It was a skill that you found yourself both blessed and cursed to have.

But right now… Well, you were just happy he was laughing at how much of a dingus you are instead of the alternative.

“Master-san, you’re going to have to try harder than that to get me to believe such nonsense. But your paltry attempt aside…”

Yamanami reaches for your still hurting hand and holds it in front of you, your heart slowing down when you feel his fingers interlock with yours. He takes his free hand and points his index finger at your hand.

“You should be more careful with your hands, Master-san. They’re one of the most important things a person can have and if you don’t take care with them, you will lose them. So please, don’t punch any more floors—or anything else for that matter. Okay?”

He releases your hand and your state of being returns to its equilibrium. You’d say that it was like coming up for air after being submerged for a minute or two, but that’d be implying that the submersion in this scenario was a bad thing. Though it was for the best, after all. You can’t get down to business if you’re swimming in an ocean of warmth and fluffy feelings.

“Right, right. I’ll be careful, Yamanami-san. Nightingale would have my head if she found out I wasn’t taking my health seriously enough to get my hand destroyed anyways. So I’ll be sure to at least make sure I lose it for a reeeeeeally good and entirely unavoidable reason. Like saving my friends!”

The topic at hand is way too serious for that, y’know with the world ending and all. Even your goofy, chuuni way of being knew to take the backseat when that stuff would be brought up. Hence why you gave a small smile and shrugged.

“But that’s enough humor from me. I’ve delayed your orientation for long enough, and I bet you’re deadly curious as to how things really are, apocalypse notwithstanding.”

He nods and you continue.

“…Right, then. You’re not the first person I’ve had this conversation with, and you certainly won’t be the last. That being said, due to recent events… I’ve found it easier to talk about this kind of stuff in the garden. Sci-fi aesthetics can’t beat nature when it comes to comfort, y’know?”

Yamanami noticeably lit up the moment you mentioned the garden. You could tell that he was holding back a sort of excitement from the way he tried to recover from showing his interest by suddenly looking away and playing it cool after his eyes widened and jaw dropped a little. Maybe he was an avid gardener back in the day or maybe he really likes nature. Whatever the case, you were happy that he was happy.

Because it was going to make this next conversation so much easier.

You gesture with your hand for him to follow you and you both head to the door. You had reached for the handle but your hand bumped into something on the way there. You looked to the side to see him somewhat sheepishly staring at you, before you could theorize as to why, he spoke softly.

“Ah, Master-san… Allow me.”

You stepped aside and Yamanami opened the door and gestured for you to go first. Which you took him up on. Standing outside the door, you decided to clarify where exactly it was you were going.

“So… It’s not that far. We just have to cut through the Command Room, head to the eastern lobby, and it’ll be the first right turn in the hall. Don’t let the lack of distance fool you, it’s not your typical backyard greenhouse—that’s a separate room, actually—but it’s way bigger. Much bigger than what most people think.”

You both start walking side by side. To illustrate your point, you positioned your hands to be a moderate distance parallel to each other.

“See, if this space between my hands represents what you’re imagining…”

You then increase the distance by spreading your arms out, the position forcing you to essentially strafe as you conversed.

“Then this is what it actually looks like. It’s what you think times… Um, a kajillion basically. It’s so big that there isn’t really a way to quantify that off the top of my head. I’m sure Sion could tell you the actual square-footage of the room herself and—oh! Sion is from the Atlas Academy. They’re the folks hosting us after… Well, I’ll get to that later. But the point is, the garden’s awesome and I really think you’ll like it!”

You rotated yourself back into a more normal way of walking and put your hands into your pockets, Yamanami shaking his head with a small smile.

“Well, considering what you attempted to dupe me into believing, I think I’ll reserve my judgement until we get there.”

You scoff indignantly.

“‘Dupe?’ I didn’t attempt to ‘dupe’ anything. I was being 100% serious! 300 mages a year get harmed physically and emotionally by floor mimics. It’s a very serious phenomeno—H-Hey quit laughing!”

Yamanami had his hand over his mouth and you could see his shoulders trembling, in essence he was very clearly trying to hide the fact that he was getting a kick out of this.

“Master-san. It’s okay to admit that you punched the floor for no reason. You don’t have to make up such tall tales to hide it. It’s quite fine, I won’t think less of you for it!”

He says as he struggles to hold back laughter, presumably stemming from the fact that he just realized that his master is a nutcase who punches floors. Still… Not as bad as it could be. Introductions have gone worse in the past and you can only thank your lucky stars that they found you somehow endearing enough to stick around back then.

You’re not the right person for this job. You never have been and you don’t think you ever will be. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to give up and let the world end. It just meant that you had to rise to the occasion and change a few things. You know… Like a hero does in their titular Hero’s Journey. Change from zero is what it’s all about, right? Otherwise the journey wouldn’t be nearly as satisfying.

You shake your head free from reminiscing about what you used to be. That’s in the past now, and the only thing you’ve got to be worrying about now is the present. And that present is walking down a few blanche halls to reach your destination, a garden. You keep your head up high and continue the fight to preserve your already lost honor, trying hard to not paint your daydreams on the blanks around you.

This isn’t your first conversation, and it won’t be your last. And judging by what your favorite group of peacekeepers said, it won’t be that bad.

So relax, you’ll do fine.

Endnote: Happy anniversary to my very first fanfiction! *Insert Confetti and Noisemakers Here* I had this planned for a while now but I uh… I fumbled the date. I thought this was on December 20th not today so that was what I alluded to in my response to last ask. So, um…Whoops? Another thing is that I had planned to get Chapter 2 out so that we can all be caught up but school has been kicking my ass, so no dice. But! I have a good portion of it done, so we’re not completely toasted yet!

And thanks to what I mentioned previously, I’m probably going to be MIA until my classes end next month and I’ll finally get free time. But please know that I am not dead and I will not abandon ye. I have three blorbos and at least 30 people to feed (one being me) so I will not back down yet!

In Redline news, I can safely say that my suffering Has Ended, I have Castoria now and I got her with 10 tickets and 2 10 pulls. So now I can start really saving for Johanna and Takagsugi before saving again for Nagakura and trying my hand at Draco before him. Thanks to the lotto that I’ve thankfully gotten done with a while ago in terms of apples, I got enough proofs to max out Sannan’s skills so yaaay… I’m in QP hell though thanks to spending it all on maxing out my Hajime-chan’s command cards with just his quick card left. I just need some more QP and he’ll be done in terms of stats. Oh, I got him to level 114 thanks to the influx of Hellfires recently.

But that’s just me. I’m really tired, so I’ll be signing off. Have a good night everyone and see you later!

—Redline, over and out!

[blueskywater-happiness]

So I will dance with Cinderella ( Papa Ozymandias and Gudako)

Author's note: This idea struck me while I was listening to Cinderella by Steven Curtis Chapman and coincidentally remember a small fandom in Pixiv, making Ozymandias a father figure to Gudako. These characters are from Fate Grand Order.

-----

When did the time go? Ah it is really a hassle for such a radiant being such as I, the King of Kings and the incarnation of the Sun god Ra, the shining God King Ozymandias. Time is a fickle being that eludes even I. Yet that little girl, the Chaldean master, whose golden eyes glows nearly similar to such I, seem to be content lazing her days away although she does show potential.

Yet when did she became as dear to him, as what his beloved and younger brother is to him?

She spins and she sways to whatever song plays Without a care in the world And I'm sitting here wearing The weight of the world on my shoulders

She got better at fighting, ever since I first lay my eyes on her, her bravery, her foolishness, her courage...

Silly child. She leads her servants with such determination, even as the world and the universe itself began to test her mettle.

She is still a child at the end of the day, her youth and her charisma. I do not know why but I often wish she could have enjoyed her years like her peers.

Instead she acts as a hero, therapist, a king (such a title befitting such as her), master, and other terms that best describe this child.

I have no idea why we began to spend time together, of course the other servants make such remarks about us being seen often. Ha, romantic partners? No one can beat his beloved Queen in that category.

That child just makes his heart clench.

It's been a long day and there's still work to do She's pulling at me saying, "Dad, I need you There's a ball at the castle and I've been invited And I need to practice my dancin' Oh, please, daddy, please"

"Pleeeeease Pharaoh!" Gudako puts her hands together in a begging position. "Can you please teach me?? The others are busy and you're a Pharaoh once, surely you can teach me!?" she looks up pitifully. I laugh loudly "Ho! You ask for my assistance little mage? Very well!" I then pat her head "I expect I shall be rewarded me more of your current age's technology, Gold one and I need more games to compete!"

"Yes yes yes! And thank you! I don't know why Marie wanted a ball." Gudako sighs "Oh shoot I better get the Cu group to the training room, I'll see you later Pa-" she froze and turns red. "S-sorry!" Pa...?

...hahaha...

I cover my eyes as I laugh. Of course, that is the answer, how could I, the Great Pharaoh of Egypt, forget?

"I permit you to address me such, Gudako." I pat her head as she gape at me. She then smiles wide.

So I will dance with Cinderella While she is here in my arms 'Cause I know something the prince never knew Oh, I will dance with Cinderella I don't want to miss even one song 'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight And she'll be gone

Ah the ball, granted what he usually held back then is different from what the Queen of France is doing. It is unseemly for I to not attend. The King of Knights, the male one, and Golden One are beside me, we the Kings should observe how the children are to act. (King of Knight enough of those potato dishes, you act no different from your counterparts).

"Papa!" Golden one stare at me incredulously "She address you as a father?" his red eyes scan me. "Ho, are you envious that a child of her ability address me such? Such a worthy child as well." I slyly raise my wine. He snort "Hardly, Sun King. She is still a mongrel though worthy in my older self's eyes. I make exceptions to that." he sips his wine. I turn around to see Gudako-- I could not breathe. She looks beautiful, like a goddess, a princess-- Princess... his little princess... "What do you think papa?" she smiles at me "I ho--" "Radiant." I whisper to her "You are as radiant as the stars in the sky, little one." I extend my hand to her "Are you not going to dance with your father, little one?" I smiled softly to her. (I shall ignore those annoying light flashes from those cameras, honestly back in his days memories are more precious, living the moment than trying to capture a moment you are not in.)

Gudako giggles at me as she accepts my hand. "Of course I will dance with you papa!" I spun her slowly as our feet moves with the rhythm, as the minutes pass, those horrendous thoughts resurface... She's mortal, she could be attack at anytime... but for now, a dance will preserve their time together.

I held her hand a bit tightly, squeezing it a bit but not too hard.

For now, she is in my arms, dancing as her laughter echoes.

She says he's a nice guy and I'd be impressed She wants to know if I approve of the dress She says, "Dad, the prom is just one week away And I need to practice my dancin' Oh, please, daddy, please"

"What in Ra's name is prom..?" I look at Gudako as she and I went to the market-- mall. "All I see is a dance event similar to balls except with more alcohol for underage children like you." I mumbled

"It is like a rite of passage, Edison told me those around my age do this when they are in school." she tug me "Everyone is holding a Chaldean version of it. They say in America parents take their children to go shopping for the clothes~" she giggles.

Honestly those dresses do not fit her at all. "Such folly, little one." Although it is to be expected, I am use to her antics after all these years. "I can host events just for you."

Ah brother... my beloved Nefertari, you would adore her.

"Eh the point is it'll be among my age." she then grins "Buuuut--" I laugh "Ah you have yet to master dancing? Even when I started to mentor you for a few years? Perhaps you should cut back your habit playing with the sphinxes and stop skipping those lessons." I tease.

"Ah but papa!" she whines "You gave them to me!" she pouts. "Also I though you like--" "As a peer but not as a suitor to a child of mine." grumbling, an idea struck me "Honestly must you entertain his courtship? You, who I adopt and love as my own, shall be a Queen of her own Kingdom and lead legions of worthy servants, why, I can create a magnificent pyramid for you!"

Why do you even need to go away? You're still a child- my child.

"Papa! He's a nice guy and he helps me!"

"Well Golden One is not so nice but he helps, King of Knights is nice but a glutton--"

"Uncle Gilgil and Uncle Arthur are different!"

So I will dance with Cinderella While she is here in my arms 'Cause I know something the prince never knew Oh-oh-oh-oh, I will dance with Cinderella I don't want to miss even one song 'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight And she'll be gone

Her smiles eventually crack, her eyes dull, the world is so cruel. She collapses into my arms, another lostbelt. More blood on her hands.

I raise my staff to erect some sort of barrier, to not disturb her respite.

I want to take you away from here.

I gently run my hand through her hair, I suddenly heard someone entering. "You dare intrude my--" oh.. it is THAT boy. That--

He held his weapon tightly, eyes glowing with determination. "I am here for her, Pharaoh. Do what you must but you can't control what I want."

Insolent! Foppish, foolish, arrogant, wretched--

"Papa please..." she tugs my cape.

Why...?

She will be gone

If I left you go to him, then...

"Papa!" an echo of her younger voice rings in my head, I tried not to think.

I...

My little princess, where did you go..?

But she came home today with a ring on her hand Just glowing and telling us all they had planned She says, "Dad, the wedding's still six months away But I need to practice my dancin' Oh, please, daddy, please"

Golden one stares at me, a brow raise as he slides in a glass of wine for me. "Sun King, years already passed." he began.

I grumbled.

He scoffs "That boy, as much I regret saying such thing about mongrels, has proven himself. Did he not risk his life for her?"

"And so did the rest of us! And he is a servant! Can he truly give her the life she deserves!?"

Can I?

Pity flash across his eyes, oh perhaps my noble phantasm can erase his--

"Sun King, not everything stays the same nor shall anyone can escape the passage of time." he then gestures to where my princess is.

I froze, the white dress on her, the veil. She looks just as radiant, his little princess.

Soon a Queen to her King.

"Papa!" Gudako waves at me, a familiar twinkle in her eyes. Ah, even after all these years?

"She is still your princess, Sun King." a hand on my shoulder. "Ever the foolish inside even as she grows. Now go, your sulking is distasteful and frankly sickening."

I walk towards her, this time, it is my hand that is accepting hers. She grins up at me.

The wedding will be held six months from now...

When did the time go? Such a hassle for such a radiant being such as I, the King of Kings and the incarnation of the Sun god Ra, the shining God King Ozymandias. Time is kind yet cruel, it gives and takes.

So for now... as I dance and sway with her.

For now she is still my princess until the day I will lead her to the altar. For now I am her dance partner until that day.

"Thank you for dancing with me, papa." Gudako said to me in a lowly voice. "I love you papa."

A...ah... This child makes his heart clench.

"I love you too, my princess..."

I held her hand a bit tightly, squeezing it a bit but not too hard, just as before but this time a tear escape from my eye.

For now, she is in my arms, dancing as her laughter echoes.

So I will dance with Cinderella While she is here in my arms 'Cause I know something the prince never knew Oh-oh-oh-oh, I will dance with Cinderella I don't want to miss even one song 'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight And she'll be gone

[drvortigern]

anyway hi! i'm revealing the secret on my pinned post to say that i have a new oneshot up on my ao3, kiss_like_vortigern 🩷

go give it a read when you have the time ><

link to fic

[misusage-and-removal]

Man that. That's a depressing idea for a fgo fanfic      

Guda and castoria getting forced to relive lb6 with all their knowledge of what happens in it.

And they know everything in it isn't real as well.

The only other person in there that's probably also real is merlin. Either of them.

This feels like a dozen people can write it a dozen different ways. And all 12 will be absolutely heart wrenching. And a few will probably be amazingly cathartic.

I'd write it myself but I don't even know where to begin with ideas on how they'd be forced through their personal hell again.

[novelelitist]

Mahou Kemono Kaiju ☆ Illya!

Rating: General Audiences Characters: Illya, Shirou, Luvia, Rin, and Ruby (the Cat) Summary: Illyasviel von Einzbern is obsessed with magical girl cartoons, but otherwise, she's just like every other fifth grader whose parents are never home. One day on her way to school, she gets the chance to join her shojou heroes (and maybe those annoying older girls who like her brother)—but at what cost?!

This is THE Magical Girl-cat-cat-girl piece you didn’t know you needed for Illyasviel von Einzbern. It’s the fourth-wall breaking masterpiece that didn’t get banned in Australia. Go read it. It’s cute, funny, and a lovable parody of the magical girl genre.

[otaku-tactician]

Hello! Here's another fill for @nasuversekinkmeme. This is concerning the prompt in which an anon wished for some Cu Alter body horror headcanons.

This fic is rated mature for gore, violence, body horror, self-harm, swearing, shower scenes, nudity, symbiosis, and blood, and stars Cu Alter in the midst of a tragic battle, one that pushes him, his body and his armour to their utmost limits.

Summary:

Fused together with the mighty sea beast he once defeated- the indomitable Curruid Coinchenn- Cu Alter's armour is no ordinary suit of protection. What secrets- and perchance, horrors- may lurk beneath the depths of his spiky layers of defence?   (Written for a body horror prompt for Nasuverse Kinkmeme; this fic explores possible ways in which Cu Alter's armor interacts with both him and his body.)

[adelha-mathilde]

For the Right Reasons (FGO) drabble

content: Adelha is asked a complicated question by Ritsuka Fujimaru and Mash. So the current head of Chaldea's Arboretum Project takes the time to discuss this with the youths as they tend to her gardens. With many of the Servants present to weigh in and listen to the discussion. Established relationships, talk of intimacy and mature subjects, set shortly after the London Singularity.

// haven't touched FGO in ages so the idea for this came out of nowhere hope you all can enjoy the fic back to my corner I go //

The arboretum was full of activity this fine morning. Various tasks being seen to by either staff members or Servants for peace to reign. Yet a call over the comms would alert the head of Chaldea's Arboretum Project that two youths were headed to her location. Which had Adelha hum as she told Doctor Archaman she would be waiting for the two youths. So Ritsuka and Mash would arrive at the workshop Adelha frequented to find that she was already waiting for them. Several wicker baskets there on the front porch for Adelha to smile and hand one to Ritsuka right off. "Come along, sweeties. We may speak as we gather the fruits from the orchard. Heaven knows you both need the leisure of simple tasks as we talk. So let us walk and talk."

Mash wore a look of confusion before she did as instructed. Yet Ritsuka seemed more distracted than usual. The teenager moving with idle motions as a shadow emerged from the workshop. The Phantom of the Opera all but vibrating with an unspoken fervor that had his Master wave him to her side. The Assassin all but folding himself around Adelha to float as she walked with the two youths towards the orchards. It didn't take long for the Phantom to revert to spirit form so as to linger without being seen. Yet it held little over the conversation as the teenagers began their task of picking fruit from the trees. Minutes spent with Adelha engaging Mash with idle chatter so as to ease into the upcoming discussion.

After several minutes of simple fruit picking, Ritsuka finally stilled to let their question out into the open air. The sound both hoarse and hesitant. "Adelha. What is it really like to have sex with someone?" Mash blushed to drop the peach in her hand for it to fall to the ground as she shouted, "Master! What is this all about?!" This had Ritsuka flinch as their own blush crept over their face and ears. Yet Adelha merely chuckled to reach out a gloved hand and gently ruffle Mash's hair to calm her. "Be at peace, Mash. This is a conversation that all souls of flesh and reason must have at some point. So it is to seek better understanding that this question is asked."

Adelha moved to stand beside Ritsuka to then climb up the tree so as the reach the higher hanging peaches. Which had the hiding Enkidu smile to then drop to the ground and simply move the basket so as to catch what peaches Adelha dropped down. Leaving Ritsuka free to speak their mind. "A lot of the adults already have had sex for various reasons. Some have been parents and have even had many partners. Most times I know a mage has sex to either ensure their lineage into the next generation. Or for mana transfers with their Servants. But I haven't asked about what makes it right or wrong. There's so much conflicting data and various viewpoints on this. So I feel really at odds with this and scared that any choice I make will be the wrong one."

Mash looked very sad to move and take Ritsuka's hand in her own. A small showing of comfort between two youths trying their best to sail through uncertain waters. So Adelha gave a hum of approval to let her words fill with warmth as much as sincerity. "Wisdom sits well on your shoulders, Ritsuka. Responsibility dictates your conundrum. This in itself shows your strength of character. So breathe and let your mind and heart empty of all thought and worry. Only when a cup is empty may it hold water." Ritsuka blinked to then nod and do just that. Sitting down next to Mash as the two let their tension ease away. Adelha's kitten soon wandering up to crawl into Mash's lap even as Fou did the same for Ritsuka as Adelha watched them. Letting the moment relax before she continued her task of picking peaches from the high boughs.

Soon enough, Adelha spoke with thoughtful ease. Her words as ever sweet and lilted with those traces of Ireland. "A thoughtful old man once told me that there are three kinds of sexual intimacy. Carnal satiation. Seeking pleasure. And making love. The true intention the Almighty Lord had for sex was always to be the third choice. One meant as a divine blending of two into one. A way for a bride and groom to worship what they are under their wedding vows. Such is for loving and being loved in kind. It is based upon vulnerability that two souls might seek to become one. A way to empty all of yourself into another as they do the same in equality. Such would demand an unbreakable oath to keep such between the Almighty and the two who have chosen to join. Never to be repeated or boasted of with others. Something personal and private should be kept as a treasured moment to savor yet kept in sacred privacy."

Enkidu paused in their motions for but a moment before they chuckled in rich tones to look very thoughtful. The divine construct soon catching the peaches from the air with fluid and effortless motions as Mash gave a sigh of pure romantic emotions. "That sounds so beautiful and romantic. Like something out of a novel or black and white movie." But Ritsuka has a thought to tilt their head and have a realization. "Wait. I think David touched on something similar. He mentioned the Psalms written in scripture and that many of them are written as love songs to glorify the love between husband and wife as much as the love between God and man. Is that why this sounds so familiar?"

Adelha grinned to clap a few times and look elated. "You wouldn't be far off the mark on that idea, Ritsuka. The old man I am relating from was part of the church and tended Sunday mass for as long as he lived. He was a stubborn and grumpy sourpuss that tended to scold me more than he would praise me. Yet he was a good man who lived his life well." Mash gave her shy smile to note with a tinge of sadness, "You sound like he was very important to you. I take it he already passed away?" Adelha gave a nod to then sigh heavily. Yet there was still abiding love in her words. "Yes. I gave the eulogy myself. He and his wife led full lives and are still much loved by those who knew them. Their grandson is actually my first true love."

Both Ritsuka and Mash went bug eyed at this to look shocked as the Phantom of the Opera reformed to stay close behind his Master. Yet Adelha simply hummed a few loving intonations to her Servant for the Assassin to ease out of his rigidness for Adelha to continue picking the peaches from the high bows. "Jayden lived next door to me when I was a child. We basically slept in the same crib our families were so tight knit. His grandparents were the ones to raise him as much as myself. While my parents did the same for him. After the tragedy that killed my parents and I moved to Germany, Jayden always stayed in touch. We would see each other often. He would come to stay with my family in Germany during the Christmas season. While I would return to his family for some of the summer. Our friendship soon deepened into so much more. Hence why I chose him to be my groom." Ritsuka and Mash hung on every word even as the Phantom shifted to rest his head on Adelha's shoulder. The Servant having tears in his eyes just as his Master as she spoke more. "Jayden didn't live long enough for us to wed. Tuberculosis was ever part of his life and it was his death after twenty years of walking this earth. We only made love that one time and it was a true worshipping of what we were and would never get to be. A piece of me went with him into eternity just as I kept some of him in exchange. Yet the time we had to us is a priceless gift that I would be thankful for. In this way do I honor he that is my first true love."

Adelha looked down at Ritsuka and Mash to have them lock their gaze to her. A moment of unspoken thoughts and feelings passing between those present before Adelha smiled. Her words holding a single question. "Ritsuka. Mash. The real question you should always ask when it comes to intimacy is one I pose to you in this form. What are my reasons for wanting this other individual and are they for the right reasons? That is what will make the act of sex right or wrong for you deep down inside your hearts and souls. That is the most simple yet primary question you should ask of yourselves. So that is how we will end this discussion for now. I would advise both of you to think and study more with this question as you basic compass to finding out more. Just be aware. As your elder and older sibling figure, be warned that there will be a scolding in store for whichever one of you decides to act first and ask later. Now take the furry ones to your rooms and have a good meal. I recall our beloved Emiya was going to make a filling lamb stew for us."

Ritsuka took but a moment to collect themselves before smiling with relief and good cheer. Only to stand and help Mash up for them to head to the dining hall with Aqua and Fou still getting their much demanded pets and cuddles. Their forms fading into the tree line as Enkidu watched the youths depart. Their own words hinting at approval and warmth. "They leave with more questions than answers after your words of council. Yet they seem more certain than hesitant as they head to pursue those answers. My mother Aruru might wish to discuss more with you on your viewpoints. However, your words held your beliefs and truths in order to guide and nurture. Truly, beholding such moments is both captivating and amusing."

Adelha gave a chuckle of noise to then shift so that the Phantom of the Opera might hold her in his embrace more securely. The Assassin much like a pacified creature basking in the summer sun as Adelha turned to place a chaste kiss to his jaw not covered by his mask. Which had the Phantom give a shiver and keen of pure delight. The Master soon speaking with a light but pointed conviction. "I am here to Protect and Nurture. This is who I am, Enkidu. So whenever a soul has need of advice or comfort, I would freely give such. Now then. I think I want to treat Erik to a peach pie for being such a devoted shadow. Enkidu. Would you like to make one as well to bring to your Master later?" Enkidu looked very pleased at this offer to lift up the now full wicker basket and smile. "Why that sounds like a fine idea. A peach pie for my Master. As well as one for Gilgamesh. Let us go back to your workshop and make ready the oven."

[elstreem]

An actually short fanfic for once. lol

BediGuda, 724 words - just the two, spending some time together.

It was one idle afternoon, a precious time when things were not so busy - the two of them free, last Master of Humanity, and he the silver knight who attends to the King of Knights. 

A rare moment of peace, for them to lay together on the grass, Ritsuka curled up to Bedivere's chest, simply, quietly talking.

It was aimless chatter - reminiscence on hijinks in Chaldea, trying out a new recipe that the kitchen staff whipped up, a book they read together.

But the fact that they could do this -

That Bedivere, a knight once destined to fade from existence -

- he could do this. He could murmur into Ritsuka's ear words of a poem he'd loved -

“It went like this, Master -”

He kissed Ritsuka's ear, whispered words that rose and fell with rhythm, and Ritsuka lay still, blushing, face burning, heart pounding in her chest, wanting to laugh and run and shout, but she didn't, because here with Bedivere was the best place to be.

- laugh aloud over the latest mishap that happened to the unfaithful duo of the Knights of the Round Table -

“Melt was NOT having Tristan hit on her when he had just tried to woo Suzuka Gozen -”

“Oh, Sir Tristan. His courage...knows no bounds, but so does his bad judgement -”

“And Lancelot was chatting up Lip with motives in mind, but Mash saw him -”

“Ah, yes, I suppose everyone at Chaldea must have heard Sir Mash slamming Sir Lancelot into the near wall at what must have been the speed of sound!”

“Mash was sorry about the wall - er, walls she busted, she mowed through more than one, so that's why me and her and the Nemo Marines were fixing the walls -”

“Ahaha! Er - my apologies, Ritsuka. I didn't mean to laugh at you. And um, it is imprudent to laugh about my comrades' misfortunes, no matter if they brought it upon themselves.”

“Too late Bedi, I heard you laugh! You're so mean, laughing at your best friend like that, he he.”

“...well it is amusing, I cannot deny. Pfft. I mean, ahem. My sincere apologies, Master. I think I was helping with putting out the tea service for the afternoon so I was not there to curb Tris nor Sir Lancelot, but rest assured, next time -”

“Next time? So you know Tris is gonna do it again?”

“Unfortunately, of that, I am completely certain.”

“Pfft, ahaha, Bedi!”

“He he, well, next time, do come tell me, or Sir Mordred, Sir Gareth and might as well call Sir Percival too - I know Mordred will be quite happy to put Tris and Lancelot and in line -”

Ritsuka smirked and reached up to touch the tip of Bedivere's nose with a finger.

“Oho? And are you looking for a reason to bully Tris, too?”

Bedivere put on a thoughtful look, and spoke slowly, as if musing something.

“Nothing of that sort, of course! But he may need a gentle reminder that he has yet to pay back the debt he owes me during our time at Luluhawa…”

Oh, how Ritsuka laughed, the sound of it bright and happy and sweet to Bedivere's ears.

He found himself laughing too, in delight.

- to stay quiet as well, holding hands, Bedivere's left arm wrapped around Ritsuka's shoulders, his right hand clasping Ritsuka's left, their fingers linked, flesh and bone and silver.

He would stroke Ritsuka's back, and Ritsuka would snuggle close, relaxing, even dozing off, her breathing going deep and even.

And Bedivere would close his eyes as well - he didn't need to sleep, being a Servant -

But being with his beloved like this -

It felt so warm, so safe and secure.

It felt like home.

“Bedivere....”

Ritsuka's fingers squeezed, and Bedivere blinked awake, already alert.

“Thank you. For being here with me.” The words were a quiet murmur, barely audible.

A soft breath, hesitation, and Bedivere didn't say anything, simply waited, listening -

“Not just today - for answering my summons. For being by my side, all this time. Thank you…for loving me.”

In the quiet, there was only the sound of grass rustling in the breeze and the creak and clicking of metal, as Ritsuka squeezed Bedivere's hand.

And the knight's reply didn't need words, as he drew Ritsuka close in a hug.

“Of course…”

Know this, dearest to my heart. I feel the same way, too. 

[megashadowdragon]

1. Moriarty is not allowed to edit this list in any way shape or form, nor is he allowed to ask others to do so in his place.

2. Moriarty is to limit his spiels about how cute his "adoptive daughter" is to five minutes. Should he be caught exceeding that time limit, he will be subjected to Saber Fran's disappointed look for a duration of time equal to the overtime he spent gushing over her.

3. Chaldea's goal is not to "take over the world", and Moriarty is not allowed to convince new staff of this.

4. In light of the March 30th 2021 incident, Moriarty is no longer allowed to watch Saw (or any horror movie for that matter). Yes, the trap was non-lethal, but it still took staff five hours to find Master Ritsuka. Kiyohime had to be physically restrained as well, leading to several second to third degree burns.

"If he ends up being responsible for an increase of patients again, I'll drag him to the infirmary myself and give him a lobotomy." - Florence Nightingale

5. In continuation of the above, Moriarty is no longer allowed to make escape rooms of any kind. Better safe than sorry.

6. Yes, Moriarty turned out to be pretty good at Warhammer 40K when Osakabehime introduced him to the aforementioned game. No, that does not make him the "Grand Champion of Tzeentch", no matter how much he punctuates his victories with screams of "Just as planned !".

7. While it is true that Holmes had a fondness for cocaine at some point, calling him "Detective Crackhead" is just petty.

8. "Because I was bored" is not a valid excuse for a violation of any article in this list.

9. Neither is "Because I'm an old man". Except when it is It almost never is.

10. Moriarty is not allowed to compare himself to Napoleon in the latter's presence. Again. Repairing the shooting range is expensive.

11. As much as it would make Master Ritsuka happy, Moriarty is not allowed to replicate Odysseus' Troia Hippos.

12. In continuation of the above, Moriarty is not allowed to host Mecha fighting tournaments. Again.

13. Moriarty is not allowed to turn Babbage into a giant robot either, especially not if he wishes to do so to lend him to Medb in order to re-enact that one show from Trigger.

“She ruined that show for me.” - Master Ritsuka Fujimaru

reddit comments

Addedums and the Following Rules should be added:

1a. Moriarty is also not allowed to get others to ask others to change the list, or engage in any scheme that would result in changing the list to his favor. This rule is subject to further change, as Moriarty is ever the Mastermind that is always pushing the boundries of what's allowable. Note: This is not permission for you to do as such, Moriarty.

3a. Moriarty is also not allow to make schemes that would destroy the world, shape it into a new order for his, Chaldea's, and/or Ritsuka's own benefits, or plot to take over the various Moonlit Organizations, which include but is not limited to the Mage Association, The Clock Tower, Atlas Acadamy, The Wandering Sea, any number of Dead Apostle Ancestors, Fairy Groups, Outer God Cults, etc.. We have a hard enough time saving Humanity and keeping the world from going 'KABOOM' , and we don't need anymore headaches involved in our day to day jobs.

Speaking of which, Rule 14: No schemes of his are to involve Foreigners, Their Patrons, or Outer Gods of any kind PERIOD. That also includes their various followers and associates - we do NOT want a repeat of the last time he pissed off Nyarly by orchestrating 'The Old Man Henderson' Incident.

1d4chan . org/wiki/Old_Man_Henderson#The_Origin_of_Old_Man_Henderson

4a. Moriarty is also not allowed to work with or advise any of the Torture Technicians in their 'work' , nor is he allowed to commission them for any schemes. Blackbeard still can't watch Madoka without screaming thanks to his, Ruby's, and Elizabeth's work......

6a. Moriarty is also not allowed to continuously gloat he is 'The Second Coming of Vecna' when playing DND.

6b. Moriarty is not allowed to run any TTRPG by himself without either his campaign being peer reviewed by a neutral party to make sure he isn't breaking any of the other Rules listed, causing unnecessary psychological harm or intense frustration with making a overly convoluted campaign, or trying to utilize it as a possible way to conduct other schemes of his under the radar. He is also banned from running 'Trail of Cthulhu' or similar Eldritch Horror TTRPGs - see Rule 14 for more details.

7a. Moriarty is also not allowed to taunt or mock Holmes about the lack of Watson in his life, nor bait him with tall tales and schemes revolving around Irene. The clean up from The Conspiracy Wars is not something we want to repeat.

13a. Moriarty is also not allowed to assist or make any mechas himself - we haven't forgotten the Robo Halloween Mess.

16. Moriarty is not allowed to engage in gambling - we still haven't stop the assassins and hitman the Las Vegas Casinos have sent after us for his hot streak through the city.

17. Moriarty is not allowed to taunt or psychological manipulate his fellow Servants without explicit permission from the Master AND his plans to be peer reviewed by at least 2 others, including one genius of similar intellectual capacity. We don't need him from making more enemies, nor incite Lancelot or Mordred to go headhunting again.....

Moriarty is no longer allowed to play any of the following video games with BB: payday, any entries in the Evil Genius, Grand Theft Auto, or Mafia franchises. Because Chaldea is not a test bed for new ideas, nor your Secret Lair, James.

Rule 18: Neither Moriarty, Osakabehime nor Tomoe are to use Logos React Generic as a game console. Yes the singularities that resulted did yield useful servants such as "Fairy Thief Arsene (Reynard)" but the several additional hours of work necessary to resolve said singularities makes this an unnecessary waste of resources.

18a: Moriarty is not to use Logos React Generic to watch movies, television shows, or any other form of video. Again, an unnecessary waste of resources.

18b: Moriarty is not to interact with Logos React Generic in any way shape or form; even if the "Fairy Tale Kingdom" incident was "Fun" it was still an unnecessary waste of resources. To hopefully prevent further misuse of this powerful device at least one version of Fran will be stationed to give a disapproving look when necessary.

Rule 19: After the "Murder House Party" incident all rules which have been applied to Moriarty shall also be applied to Holmes, where applicable. Yes no humans were harmed but Mash is still in her room attempting to figure out the many unanswered mysteries and we are starting to run out of string. Additionally, Holmes is to report to Mash Kyrielight's room to help solve said mysteries.

Rule 20: Under no circumstances are Holmes and Moriarty to "Fuse Together" in anyway. Yes we acknowledge that both the fusion and the resulting "Beast IV H+M" incident were accidents but to prevent such another such occurrence preventative measures must be taken.

18c: For the last time, neither Moriarty OR Holmes are to interact with Logos React Generic. To prevent another breach of this rule the device in question has been placed under the constant surveillance of Mycroft. Destruction was advised but Sion insists on keeping the device for "Sentimental reasons."

Moriarty is not allowed to add holidays to the Chaldean schedule without approval and discussion ahead of time.

"If you ever pull this again, you will be the one attending to the children next time." - Atalante Alter.

Addendum: Moriarty is now banned from proposing holidays for the forseeable future.

"I can understand Halloween and Christmas, but how did Take Your Daughter to Work Day create a singularity?!" - Director Goredolf Musik

The gacha laughs as I fail

"You see, that's a funny one. I think it started when Morgan and her daughter appeared..." - James Moriarty.

6a. Moriarty is also not allowed to invoke the other Chaos Gods. Last time he did it with Douman and Koyan, Chaldea had to deal with a whole Daemon horde and even Kiara put her foot down.

6b. The Table-top Gaming Club are hereby forbidden from summoning servants for the destruction of the storage area by a literal walking church and a fortress tank, courtesy of CREEEEEED!!

Moriarty is no longer allowed anywhere near the Summoning system, nor will we be summoning Hans Gruber to 'show him how it's done'. And Blofeld is right out.

6c. The summoning of Servants from Warhammer 40k is forbidden. We have enough headaches as it is. Yes, even the ones from the Imperium of Man. Anyone has any complaints, direct them to Moriarty.

Moriarty is not allowed to reenact the "Presentation!" scene from Megamind. We do not know what that giant Moriarty head is made out of, nor do we want to find out.

Moriarty is not allowed to stock Shuten's poisonous sake for "Servants with strong livers", and spike Sherlock's drink with it. It stopped being funny after the first six hours.

Moriarty is not allowed to prank Sherlock Holmes, unless he could clean up the mess within half an hour.

"Hm?" - Sherlock

"Much obliged" - Moriarty

Moriarty is not allowed to inexplicably crash into Holmes from above at all as revenge for what happened at Reichenbach Falls.

Moriarty is not allowed to blackmail any Chaldea personnel, including Servants, or charge exorbitant amounts for his material.

Moriarty is not allowed to make toy replicas of his main weapon unless they have been approved by Edison.

"I only unfairly jacked up the price one time!" -Edison

Moriarty is not allowed to construct hidden passageways, escape routes, and trap doors anywhere in Chaldea without express permission. Poor Scheherazade was scared half to death after accidentally falling and refused to leave her room as a result.

"One time was enough, Edison" -Tesla

Alternative to Rule 6: If Moriarty insists on any and all staff members of Chaldea to join him on another Charadon Campaign (698.M41) ie. Lamentars. Then kindly suggest Paradox-Billiards-Vostroyan-Roulette-Fourth-Dimensional-Hypercube-Chess-Strip Poker with Sigurd.

Moriarty is no longer allowed to put in motion his plans for establishing control of all Three Branches Of The Mages Association by taking control of the World's Economy and Stock Market. No, just because you're younger self did it is NOT a justification. And while having all Three Branches Of The Mages Association under control would be great, that is a headache Chaldea does not wish to get into. And no, crowning Ritsuka as ' The Emperor Of Humanity ' while tempting, is NOT something to be done.

Addendum : Moriarty is hereby forbidden from trying to convince Ritsuka to his schemes of World Domination by agreeing to create as many Mechas as he desires. Ritsuka SOMEHOW managed to convince Sion to take control of the Atlas Institute and even agreed to give her full control of it as well as complete freedom for research with material and knowledge from the other branches too. We have no idea HOW he managed to do it, and we have no intention of finding out.

6a. Moriarty is not allowed to set up the table nor influence the other player in setting up the table for battle, and if needed is to have a third party set up the table, so as to mitigate his mathematical manipulations.

6b. Everytime he does proclaim himself the Champion of Tzeentch, remind him that it is the Death Guard Foetid Viron unit "Tallyman" who has the "Malicious Calculations" ability, that Vorx and the Lords of Silence are obsessed with numbers and math, and that both of the previous are scions of Nurgle, Tzeentch's opposite.

6a.1. Moriarty is not allowed to participate in the selection of the third party, not even in terms of suggesting a possible candidate. He is also not permitted access to the knowledge of who it was that agreed to become said third party.

40. Moriarty is not allowed to be the tour guide for freshly-summoned Servants or new personnel. 41. Moriarty is not allowed to answer "Who is who" questions asked by new Servants or personnel. 42. Moriarty is strictly forbidden to convince anyone new that Sherlock is actually A-----es in disguise. Or one of the Genji in disguise. Or Lenin/Trotsky/any of the Bolsheviks in disguise. Or William Shakespeare in disguise. IN GENERAL Moriarty is forbidden to convincingly state, hint, insinuate, or try to prove that Sherlock is anyone else in disguise. If this rule is broken, Moriarty is to cover all the expenses for healing Holmes after being maced/decapitated/burnt/trapped in ice/sent a letter full of curses/harmed in any other way. 43. While the presentation "Why Cumberbatch is cuter, Downey Junior is hotter, and Livanov is cooler than the Chaldean Holmes" was surely entertaining, Moriarty is forbidden to constantly stream it on all Chaldean Channels. "Seriously, how dare he hack me in a middle of a broadcast!" - BB 44. Moriarty is not allowed to convince anyone that We don't talk about Sherlock (we do). 45. Moriarty is not allowed to raise funds for "donations to the Church/Cult of Ritsuka Fujimaru" (whether or not this Church/Cult exists). 46. Moriarty is not allowed to organise mass production of Instant-Pleasure, Instant-Pigification kykeon. In case of breaking that rule, he is to drink by himself all the kykeon produced. (For further information, see "The list of things Circe is no longer allowed to do in Chaldea") 47. Moriarty is not allowed to organize a chocolate black market for Valentine's day. M. Fujimaru is already struggling to eat the legally produced treats. 48. Moriarty is not allowed to change his name to circumvent this list by claiming he is no longer James Moriarty.

Moriarty is no longer allowed to forge anyone's handwriting, nor is he allowed to ask others to write letters for him. Furthermore he is not allowed to teach illiterate servants how to read, least he redefine the word "sincerely" to mean challenging one to a duel.

14. Moriaty is to not serve up any alcohol-related items to Master (regardless of their age and/or consent). The "Love-Confessing-Prank-Drinking-Game Incident" had previously drained Chaldea of 60% of our yearly budget to repair all working sectors to functional state, and we do NOT want to repeat that. Failure to comply shall be punished by Discipline Committee members Raikou and Martha

6C) If Moriarty is to play any tabletop OR card game in general, he must be accompanied by Saber Fran at all times. Hopefully, Fran's disappointed look would prove useful in keeping him in check should he try anything suspicious.

[cloversdreams]

Rabbit Hole

Fandom: Fate/Grand Order Rating: Explicit Relationships: Charlemagne | Saber/James Moriarty | Ruler Summary: “Your outfit…” Charlemagne mumbled. Moriarty crossed his arms and frowned. He glanced off to the side when he muttered, “If you hate it so much that you can’t even bring yourself to look in my direction then just say s–” Charlemagne reacted before his brain had a chance to decide if it was a good idea. He was upon his lover instantly. Just when he wondered if it was too forceful, Moriarty leaned in to meet him kiss for desperate kiss. Their lips crashed together with the intensity of a pair who desperately needed to be as close as physically possible and didn’t care who knew it. Charlemagne was so freaking turned on right now. He only paused to mutter, “I haven’t seen you in so long and you greet me wearing something so provocative… how did you think I’d react? Of course I like it.” Charlemagne stepped closer and pressed his crotch against the other man, showing that he was already quite excited. “I really like it.” “It wasn’t like I planned this,” Moriarty reminded him. His gaze fell downward and there was a little smirk upon his face when he looked up again and added, “however, I am prepared to deal with the resulting consequences.”

(x)

My, my, my, you're just a little freak (Like I thought) Why, why, why, you're just the same as me (Oh my god) Right, right, right, it's time to start the show Once more, deeper into this rabbit hole, we go