#guhamun; percival

[incandescentia]

❝So, Sir Killian, where you are from, you are a knight?❞ Percival was naturally intrigued by this information, if only because he had never met a knight from another plane of existence before. Everyone he knew in this building, well, the majority were those whose stories he knew. ❝What made you desire to be one? All knights have their reason for picking up a weapon and fighting for the sake of their kingdom, so I cannot help but be intrigued to know what your reason was.❞

‘Sir’, huh?

That was a title that he had not been using for such a long time — one that he’d nearly forgotten if there were no other knights or other people associated with similar titles present around him.

Once he knew of who he was currently speaking to, he would return the same courtesy with a proper conduct. “That’s right, Sir Percival. I am a knight just like you, or… was.” Unlike him, he wasn’t clad in a proper armor, but he figured that other parties might simply recognize his origins through the all-encompassing knowledge given by the grail. “Why do I want to be a knight, you ask? …Well. I could say that it might be simply in the bloodline.” His father was one, his grandfather was one, his great-grandfather was one, && his ancestors were also one. Even his mother was once a part of an elite fighting force of a rare pedigree in her homeland — maybe being a natural born fighter was really in their blood, after all. “I thought that being a knight was one way of life, with my fate already woven to become one for the sake of justice like my predecessors… though sometimes, the reality proved otherwise as an obstacle. Sir Percival, you probably understand what I mean, right?”

That was what he initially thought of by taking the oath of knighthood, swearing an eternal fealty towards the rulers of his country && to the Holy See… but even those oaths can easily be betrayed by the same people who took the oath && those he swore fealty to. In the end, those life changing ceremonies could mean nothing to those who ultimately did not share the same view as he did. “…but even so, I wanted to be a knight because I truly want to believe in justice and it has always been our duty to protect the weak, even if we have to test our loyalties for it. Though I may not wield the title anymore, I still abide to the oath that we take as a knight.”

@guhamun ( percival )

[dnangelic]

hmph . ' abrasive ? ' was a phantom thief ever best described as abrasive ? why not elegant , erudite , incredible and amazing ? it's not as if he expected the other to bow , knowing knights had their kings and kingdoms to swear themselves to , but a little bit of impressed admiration wouldn't have hurt in place of the marginally insulting observation . ' it'd only be more annoying if i pretended at anything , right ? maybe if you were a beautiful woman i'd find reasons to be more smooth . ' a darkly gloved hand lifts and whirls a little . ' anything's possible , but plenty of things are still a waste of time . ' just a glance goes over to the knight . sure , a smile and thinly veiled demand like that could give even him chills . and yet , for a moment more , his gaze casts back over the expanse of the table .

...

( he really has no idea what the hell even HALF of this stuff is . )

     OH, DAISUKE WAS ACTING like a very disgruntled cat who had recently been caught in the rain, which in turn, meant only one thing. ❝Ah, I must be speaking to Dark right now. Ahahaha, I should have known. I cannot remember Daisuke ever being so…❞ he paused, pondering what the right word was, ❝abrasive.❞ Arms crossing over his chest, Percival’s smile only grew that much wider. ❝One should never say never. Anything is possible if you put your mind into it.❞ Well, if you were Percival, probably. Most normal people fell outside of the scope of a Knight of the Round. ❝But if you insist on being so headstrong, then at least eat something on the table.❞ Dark would eat something. There was danger behind that smile.

[intcritus]

Once you're stripped clean, what's at your core?

acerbic wit : you're a mentor — an old scarred wolf, an injured soldier, a disgraced paladin. your teachings read as shamelessly pretentious, speaking in rhymes and biting down hard into anyone stupid enough to make the wrong move. this isn't your first life, nor your second, nor your sixth — you'll make the most of your time shackled to this world, no matter how many loops it takes to get it right. with every defeat, you reincarnate; a little smarter, a little quicker, crueler and nastier. will you choose to be brutal, equalizing, that final strike in the face of your enemies? will you go soft, become tender and domesticated? the choice is yours. it's not like i can stop you.

tagged by: @kuraokcmi thank you bb <3 tagging: @bonesofchaos @guhamun ( jianyu or percival )

[rake-rake]

@guhamun

❝  you know, it’s funny; i keep thinking i’ve seen you before.  ❞ ( percival )

Song of Achilles.

A gloved hand supports his chin, folded knuckles pressed to his lips and covering the inscrutable line of his mouth. Dull blue watches the other for a long moment before narrowing in honest amusement, head tilting in a somewhat curious manner, smile a bit too wide between glossed lips.

"I have been accused of many things, never of having a common face." he giggles at the notion, fingertips covering the sound as if to keep it from escaping further, "I cannot say the same about you, my dear stranger; I don't think I have ever met one such as you. Yet, there is no time such as the present, yes? I believe there is something about knights, chivalry, and introductions to be said."

[reginrokkr]

✧ @guhamun asked: “If I can be by your side, I will endure any hardship.” ( percival )

Flirting with the source of death cannot bring anything good. Long has it been since Dáinsleif had come with this realization: all the way back since the renowned alchemist Gold created rifthounds and they were used by the beastmasters to fight against the dangers of the Abyss to more recent times when the energy utilized from within the Ley Lines was switched for that of the void. This caused that the first line of defense of Khaenri'ah against the dark forces, the field tillers, went haywire when the abyssal presence grew stronger for reasons yet to be investigated and, rather than fighting the monsters of the abyss that dared to trespass the borders, they allowed them pass and began to attack Black Serpent Knights.

A kingdom like Khaenri'ah that borders the limits of the abyss and human activity should be prepared for any inconvenience that these lairs may pose for their survival, this fact stands true even now. Nevertheless, the unpredictable nature of the Abyss begets situations of emergency that require drastic decisions. With two foes of different natures but of equal lethality if ill-prepared, this urgency is higher than any others, for no one anticipated that it would take an extra protection for the Black Serpent Knights in order to defend the kingdom. But now... they're driven against the wall. Going back to retrieve the necessary protection against any abyssal effects that all of them may have if infected with it through battle wounds is a luxury they cannot afford. One wrong move suffices to let all these automatons and fiends of the Abyss to enter the cities and wreck havoc everything they have built for the past millennia. That's why...

◜Everyone.◞ All the Black Serpent Knights straighten themselves with an intoned yes, sir to make known that they have heard him as he turns on his heels to face them. ◜These circumstances are of exceptional gravity and we lack the proper means to defend our people as we usually would. For that reason...◞ Sapphire irises narrow, a sense of guilt pangs in his chest. But there is no other choice, no matter if he knows they won't like this. Thus does Dáinsleif steel himself back to his stoic self before waving his arm to retreat. ◜All of you, fall back! Now!◞ Shock is evident in everyone's startles voices at the order, causing some of them to look among themselves in confusion. One of them steps forward to voice the doubt that many of them have: ◜But sir! If we do that—◞ ◜It's an order.◞ Though turning his back to them would suppose the end of the conversation, Dáinsleif doesn't have the heart to send them off to retreat without some last words. ◜Who else will protect our people if you exhaust your lives in the face of unprecedented danger?◞ His sword materializes in his right hand, thus he waves it once more to insist, his voice much sterner and firmer. ◜Retreat, now! Defend the citizens from the automatons, I will take care of the rest.◞ And even softer still, almost like a prayer for reunion once everything is over. ◜May glory be with us.◞

When Twilight Sword is ready for battle, any army that may come his way would only be marching to their doom.

His men know this more than anyone, and so they retreat slowly one by one, throwing concerned gazes to their captain, some of them performing the Black Serpent Knight salute as a form of prayer of their own to see him again before doing as they were ordered. The reason why no one dares to question that he'd be as endangered as the rest should he be infected with the abyssal might by battle wounds is because it's common knowledge among them that Dáinsleif's manner of holiness, much like the other side of the coin to his brother's, is against the Abyss. Sensing that they have left, the lunarescent knight closes his eyes once more and breathes deeply a quivering exhale to steel his own nerves.

◜If I can be by your side, I will endure any hardship.◞ Dáinsleif's azure eyes snap open in shock, the magnitude of his surprise sufficiently big to permeate on his features as he turns to see Percival standing by his side. ◜This insubordination will cost you more than disciplinary punishment. You know that, right?◞ But he already knows the answer. Time and time again, Twilight Sword never tired of reminding his men the dangers of the Abyss. If any of them is severely wounded or spend a prolonged amount of time within it, it could be mortal to them and potentially dangerous to their loved ones if not treated in time which— is difficult to do. He will endure any hardship. Those words reverberate within Dáinsleif's mind, a certainty that he's here on his own volition and taking responsibility of what may happen to him regardless of the warnings. Bough Keeper's features soften minutely as his gaze turns away from Percival, silent. ◜Very well, then. So be it.◞ Until his free hand extends towards him to imbue him in protective, sapphire flames. They may not be as effective as they are innately on himself, but hopefully they will be sufficient to keep him alive, should anything happen.

Steps rushing towards them drum against the earth, causing Dáinsleif to turn on his heels, celestial eyes widened in shock as plenty of his men come to a halt and salute him. ◜We won't abandon you, sir!◞ ◜We joined your ranks knowing what could happen to us. So please... captain!◞ Star-shaped pupils quiver within their sapphire orbits, moved by his men's resolve to stay despite knowing fully well what being ill-prepared against the Abyss like this can lead them to. And, to Percival's credit despite the act of insubordination, Dáinsleif cannot ignore that this same deed must've served as an inspiration to the rest. Even if, in essence, it became a collective insubordination and disregard for their safety.

When Twilight Sword is ready for battle, any army that may come his way would only be marching to their doom.

But one individual can go as far on its own. The greater the number, the greater the lengths they can reach.

Gloved fingers tense to create a bigger flame on Percival, eyes of the same color fall upon him. ◜Stay back with them.◞ It is no longer an order, but a plea, a favor asked from one man to another. This would cause the flame coating Percival to shrink in size as it's distributed to the rest of the soldiers that stayed, a protective layer to at least preserve their lives and not receive any critical damage or symptoms related to the abyss. Thus spectral, sapphire swords materialize around Dáinsleif as both fiends and automatons come their way and ultimately turns to face them. His head turns to the rest one last time to give them a nod of approval, causing an uproar of excited cheers for managing to stay despite his initial orders. And then, sapphire eyes meet Percival's one last time before looking forward to ready himself for battle.

Thank you.