#bond 10

[writer-and-artist27]

[Image Description: Four screenshots from Fate/Grand Order showing in order, (1) the Bond Level Up screen for Assassin Mata Hari, where her Bond Level has gone up from 9 to 10; (2) the “Craft Essence Extracted” screen that shows Mata Hari’s Max Bond Craft Essence of “Worthless Jewel”; (3) a screenshot of Mata Hari’s Servant card, with emphasis on all 10 of her bond diamonds in the level screen being filled and about to be enhanced to Bond 11; and (4) a “Bond Level Limit Released” screen that shows Mata Hari’s Bond Level limit being broken to reach Level 11. End Description.]

It's been a while since my last bond achievement (and this one happened on July 18, darn work fatigue), and to make a milestone like this with one of my first Servants after the tutorial (I checked, I summoned Mata Hari a week after starting the game), it feels more meaningful.

So, with yet another song in mind, here's a story for one of my first Assassins. Thankie, Margaretha.

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Mata Hari already knew she didn't have much compared to the other Servants in her class. Even for an Assassin, the distinct lack of Presence Concealment as a skill was one of many things that made her not even close to a good fighter, so why wouldn't she give up on her wish for the Holy Grail?

She never was able to achieve a happy family life when she was alive. Trying again as a Servant felt like a faraway pipe dream at best.

But when looking into the teary, star-filled eyes of the girl named Vy Duong, she started to reconsider.

Maybe it was the first few days Vy had come to Mata Hari in the middle of the night, scared from the occasional nightmare and wanting to talk about makeup and jewelry experience to fall back asleep. Maybe it was those moments in the early morning soon after, when Mata Hari would find the girl sleepy with unbrushed hair; how the simple act of easing tangles out of those brown strands started to become a comfort to her too. Or perhaps it was when Chaldea had tried to save Paul Bunyan, and even when facing that other Mata Hari, Vy had hugged her so much harder since. Or even in Salem, when Vy asked her oddly-timed questions and even cried over her faked death because Mata Hari meant something to her.

It felt like a glimmer of hope in the first time in forever.

It's why Mata Hari couldn't find herself doing anything but smiling shakily once a rainbow flame is being offered her way in the Enhancement Center of Novum Chaldea, the mana warm and soft just like the girl who summoned her. She should've known it was coming, but seeing it was different from imagining it.

"...You... you really are serious about this, hun?"

Even when a little taller, a little tougher, Vy's smile didn't change from their first meeting — appearing bright and happy as she held the Bond Chalice up to Mata Hari's eye level. "Aye. You've been with me for almost forever, Margaretha," was the warm response back, the words seemingly making the rainbow flame glow even brighter between them. "And I'd like you to stay with me. You're one of my honorary big sisters and I love you, Margaretha. Even if," a self-deprecating giggle left her lips, "I'm kinda out of Holy Grails right now to give to you at the moment, you're still on the top of the gifting list once we restock. Because it's you and I wanna thank you."

The jewels in Mata Hari's arms felt like nothing once the words registered in the back of her mind, and looking into those star-filled brown eyes had her own start to itch. "Honey..."

"Aye." Even when her own arms started to shake, Vy carefully put the Bond Chalice on one of the nearby tables to reach over and take Mata Hari's hands in hers to squeeze. "I hope it's not too much...? Because you really have helped me a lot, Margaretha. I feel like I couldn't have gotten through everything without you, so I couldn't help but love you. And I love you very very much."

It takes Mata Hari a moment to realize the worthless jewels in her arms are falling to the ground with loud clink clink noises akin to rain, her vision blurring as she tugged on her Master's hands. Because why would she need them now? Vy merely giggles once she's tucked into a hug, her nose resting against Mata Hari's neck in a clear sign of trust as the first sob leaves Magaretha's lips.

This is what I always wanted.

"I... I love you too, Vy. Honey. I love you too. Very very much."

"Aye!"

[fernrisulfr]

BOND 10 ACHIEVED AFTER 10,000 YEARS.

[artsymeeshee]

Artsy! I love all the Mabel and Ford bonding art you've been drawing recently. I really wanted to draw them again so here you go fren!!!

!!! Fren, this is so cute!! Let them make all the concoctions! >:D

[lilianhuas]

[gaminggoth]

finally 👸🏼💙

[lunar-years]

I am doing a hunger games reread in anticipation of sotr and I am once again obsessed with how unintentionally funny Katniss is. Every page she’s like “I HATE Peeta Mellark god he is WAY too nice” “Peeta is super strong and well built” “holding Peeta’s hand steadies me. he is solid as a rock” “Peeta’s eaten my squirrels?!! 🚨🚩 Omg! Suspicious!!” “Warmth spreads through me when I look at him but I quench it down” “he is SO annoying!! Eww 😤😠😍🍞” like…girl… and the fact that there are some people who read the books and insist Katniss never grew to love Peeta…friends I hate to tell you this but I don’t even think she needed to grow 😭

[paintedcrows]

Are you alright...?

[starry-bi-sky]

“Your brother is adorable.” The cashier cooed at Danny, peering over the counter with a smile. “What’s his name?”

Danny looked down to the surly, scowling little de-aged Batman currently holding onto his hand, glaring up at the cashier with bright blue eyes.

Things had already been bad enough when he’d gotten caught in a fight in Gotham, but things went from bad to worse when a magician had hit Batman with a de-aging spell and then shoved them through a portal.

Into a different fucking dimension.

Because of course neither of their lives could be easy. And now the two of them were stuck in Iowa in the middle of nowhere, at a truck stop gas station, trying to go on a cross-country roadtrip to reach the nearest hero city and get home.

He looked up and smiled awkwardly, trying to come up with a name off the top of his head — one of the heroes called Batman ‘B’ when he got hit right? B for Batman, right. B… B… Bee… Bees.

“Buzz.” He said, and tried not to grimace as the cashier’s face warped with surprise. “Like the astronaut.”

This was gonna be a long trip.

[faunandfloraas]

Changbin unnie ♡

[lotus-duckies]

i think there's something very interesting about the fact that irl, turtles aren't very social or familial in any sense but the ninja turtles are incredibly social and love caring for others and this is arguably the greatest example of their humanity

[panakoui]

post canon laishuro prelude :>

[short-wooloo]

i forgot to post this a week ago...

Its 2025 now, which means this year these all turn 15!!

[lilianhuas]

[feelingtheaster99]

I absolutely fucking love Brennan and Sibohan as catty British teen sisters like dishing on their enemies and playfully griping (and expressing honest sentiments of love and affection) at each other

[silusvesuius]

[woundedresurrected]

sydney and serena