#just finished requiem a few days ago and WOW

[yourdeepestfathoms]

i can’t believe Sophia took one look at Amicia and went

[robinofgothamcity]

♡ lyric inspiration: “and I thought my heart was attached for all the sunlight of our past but she's so sweet, she's so pretty. does she mean you forgot about me?”

♡ pairing: timothy thatcher x fem! reader

♡ note: not checked for grammar or spelling mistakes / also, i do take character suggestions for WWE/NXT/UK wrestlers now! remember only character suggestions! not full on reqs. 

and do you tell her she's the most beautiful girl you've ever seen? an eternal love bullshit you know you'll never mean.

you looked to Marcel and sighed, putting your head on your arms and looking at the way he was with his new girlfriend. it had been months that you and him were no longer but a part of your heart still hadn’t healed itself from the break up and it wasn’t exactly news to anyone. 

the cause of breakup was that Marcel wanted to be ‘free’. you had no idea what that meant and for the longest time, your relationship with the rest of Imperium had taken a strain because of it but when Marcel’s endeavors finally got back to you, thank Alex for that, you weren’t exactly surprised. 

“woah,” you heard Candice whisper to herself as you finally looked up to see what she was talking about. you stared at a few people, most notably someone you hadn’t expected to see, “is that Timothy Thatcher?” you asked her, surprised at seeing him. 

she nodded, “I had no idea he signed here,” you told her, as the manager of the performance center showed him around. Candice shrugged, “me either but hey, it’s nice to see him finally make his way here,” she admitted as you nodded in agreement. 

you knew of Timothy because of Marcel. the two were close because of their days back in wXw and the independent scene. although you hadn’t met him personally, you knew everyone on Marcel’s faction was super close to him. 

“i’m going to go buy a Red Bull, want anything?” 

“a water!” 

you nodded, grabbing your wallet and making your way to the vending machine not too far from where catering was at. you kicked the small scrap piece of paper that was on the floor as you overheard the conversation was having with his girlfriend. 

a part of you wanted to just go over there and scream at him for breaking your heart and not giving you closure on the relationship but you knew it was no use. you would gain nothing from it and all it would do would make you look like the crazy ex girlfriend. 

“hey! where ya sitting?” you heard Johnny ask you from across the hall. you pointed to catering, “with your wife! i’ll meet you there in a sec!” you screamed back as you put in your money for the energy drink. 

being that your mind was still preoccupied with your previous thoughts, you hadn’t realized that you still hadn��t punched in the button for your drink until you heard someone clear their throat, “oh, i’m sorry! i didn’t realize i was keeping the line up,” you stated apologetically. you quickly put in the money for Candice’s water and snatched it from the bottom.

you finally looked up and smiled softly, “sorry again,” you whispered as you realized that it was Timothy who was waiting, “oh, you’re Timothy Thatcher, right?” you asked a bit excitedly. he nodded, “big fan! loved watching your matches in wXw,” you added on. 

Tim smiled and shook your hand, “likewise, you’re a great performer,” he replied, as he saw the way your eyes lit up as you continued to talk to him and he couldn’t deny the fact that he actually noticed he was trying to keep the conversation alive, “wow, so, do you think you’ll be ready for next weeks taping?” you asked. 

“possibly. a few of the trainers might keep me working out until the end of the month until they find me someone to feud with,” you nodded understandingly, “ahh, that sucks, I expected you to be on quicker than that but I have to go before the trainers kill me for being late,” you said, giving him a small wave before jogging away. 

not long after, Alex, who had saw the entire interaction walked up to him, “you friends with ( your name )?” he asked, genuinely curious. Tim didn’t exactly reply and only shrugged, “well if you are, she’s super nice,” Alex murmured, “and could use someone to actually get over what Marcel said,” he said it so quietly that Tim couldn’t exactly figure out what he had said. 

Alex thought of you as a sister and absolutely loathed what Marcel did to you. he thought it was super ridiculous of Marcel to not be up front about his feelings and just leave you hanging with no explanation to his actions. he could see the way the heartbreak was still affecting you till this day and wanted nothing more than to yell at him for bringing his new girlfriend around. 

“wait, what?” Tim asked, trying to get Alex to repeat himself, “no, it’s nothing,” he quickly said, “I just said she’s super nice and she’s kind of like a sister to me.” 

Tim didn’t bother to press the question as he heard commotion coming from the cafeteria area. the two of them peeked their heads in to see you chugging your Red Bull back as you quickly grabbed your things, “fuck, I didn’t think I was on tonight,” you screamed as Candice followed behind you. 

you booked it out the door as you didn’t pay Tim or Alex any attention. they saw the panic on your face, along with Candice’s as the both of you ran into the locker room, “one day Hunter is gonna kill her for that,” Alex laughed as they heard the panic screams from the locker room. 

the two of them sat inside of catering as you were quick to put on your gear and head to makeup. your match with Candince wasn’t exactly planned but Hunter had told you to get ready in case it did happen but time had slipped when you were speaking with Tim and now you had twenty minutes to get ready. 

by the time you and Candice finished, you had no less than a minute before your call time. you tried to dry your face as quick as possible but time was no longer on your side as you heard ‘Requiem in D Minor′ play through the speakers. your theme was one that followed you through the indies as you thought it always made a statement when it played. 

“interesting theme,” Tim told Alex as he nodded. your gear consisted of all black attire along with darkened makeup to match it. your personality however didn’t match your aesthetic at all. your personality was a lot more happy-go-lucky outside the ring. 

“yeah she picked it years ago and I guess it kind of stuck,” he explained as they watched you walk on the ramp, staring at the fans with a mocking smug look on your face, “ask Indi on her last with her and she’ll explain why the theme gives her nightmares till this day,” he joked. 

the two of them watched you slide into the ring with ease before Candice’s theme went off on the speakers next. you were leaning against the ropes, not bothered by the insults Candice was throwing at you as the ring announcer called the match to start. 

you quickly grabbed Candice by her shoulders and threw her over yours as she slammed onto the ring with a loud thud. Tim was shocked to see the way you picked her up without hesitation. it looked like it was no sweat off your back as you followed up your move with a flip off the top rope. 

Tim could see the way you were clearly getting the upper hand in the match. it was another twenty minutes of back and fourth until you climbed up on the top rope again and did a double flip in the air before grabbing Candice’s leg and tapping her out. 

your theme blared through the speakers as you swiftly moved out of the ring and walked back slowly to the back. you blew the crowed a menacing kiss before you were fully out of view and collapsed onto a chair to catch your breath. 

“can you please go easy next time,” Candice groaned as she sat next to you. you laughed, smacking her shoulder lightly, “relax, this is just payback for what you did last week to me,” you retorted as you saw Alex walk towards you, “what do you want, Wolfe?” you said with a shaky breath.

he laughed, sitting next to you, “have you met Tim?” he asked, knowing the obvious answer. “met him earlier at the vending machine,” you replied, waving at him again. Tim did the same as Alex smirked to himself, a bright idea popping into his head. 

“we should all catch dinner tonight,” you stared at Alex in question, “who is all?” you asked, making sure ‘all’ didn’t include Marcel, “you, me, Tim, Candice, and if Johnny wants to come along,” he replied. you sighed in relief, “i’m down if everyone else is,” you said. 

Tim and Candice agreed as you and Candice left it to Alex to figure out where to catch dinner. you showered as quickly as possible as Alex had sent you twenty different messages to hurry up before everything got booked up for the late night reservations. 

all you put on was leggings and a random wrestling t-shirt they had lying around for all of you to wear. although you hadn’t noticed what the shirt was, Alex couldn’t help but laugh seeing that it was one of Walter’s t-shirts. 

you met up with Alex, Candice, Johnny, and Tim at the front entrance of Full Sail. a few steps away was Marcel and his girlfriend talking to Fabian. you had no idea if Alex had even spoken to them but as soon as you arrived, all of you jumped into Alex’s car. 

“so, what made you want to come over here and wrestle?” Candice asked Tim as the three of you were squished in the back, “figured it was time to head back home,” he said. you weren’t exactly paying attention to the conversation but Tim for whatever reason couldn’t help but look at you every once in a while. 

Alex noticed it immediately and mentally high-fived himself. he knew Tim long enough to know when he was interested in someone and he was able to tell that he was slightly taking an interest with you. he saw the subtle looks he was giving you and knew that if he played his cards right, the two of you could end up dating. 

the restaurant Alex picked wasn’t far from Full Sail. it was in walking distance of the arena which you found odd that all of you had to pack into the car when you could’ve easily walked it there. 

the hostess quickly sat all of you when you arrived and Alex made sure to sit you on the edge of the table with Tim. he felt a bit bad knowing he was plotting you to get with his friend but he knew it would help you with getting over Marcel for once and knew that Tim would not do what Marcel did if you two ended up dating. 

throughout the dinner, all of you stuffed your faces with Greek food and talked for what felt like hours when in reality it was just an hour and a half. the conversation never died out, especially when it was just you and Tim talking. you found it a bit funny that the two of you hit it off so easily that it felt like you had known him for years. 

+

a few weeks passed as you remained by Tim and Alex’s side. within that time, you hadn’t realized that you were hardly thinking about Marcel and his girlfriend. your time was spent either training, going out with the small group all of you formed, or just texting Tim when you were able. 

you had given Tim your number the night all of you went out. Alex had told you that it was odd to see Tim actually engage in a conversation with someone. he wasn’t exactly the most extroverted person in the world and tried to keep his friend group tight but with you, it was just a different story as he put it. 

Tim had finally made his appearance on TV and considering his appearance caused everyone in the crowd to go crazy when he finally stepped onto the ring, all of you wanted to go and celebrate it. 

you also had a match previous to Tim’s segment and you had once again hadn’t realized what shirt you grabbed from the rack when you picked it. however, Alex did recognize it. it happened to be Tim’s. they were shirts that they had just put on the shops website. 

“nice shirt,” Tim joked as he pointed it out. you looked down and laughed as you read the grey colored t-shirt, “shut up, I didn’t even realize it,” you retorted as you sensed your phone going off. you saw that it was Alex texting you. 

you quickly read the message and immediately rolled your eyes, “he dropped out of dinner. I guess Imperium had segments to do after the taping,” you informed him, “Johnny and Candice couldn’t make it because Johnny injured himself tonight and she wanted to make sure he was okay.” 

“so I guess it’s just the two of us,” Tim replied. you nodded as the two of you had just decided it was best to catch dinner at your place instead of making the drive into downtown Orlando, “what are you making me?” he asked as the two of you walked inside. 

you thought for a moment, “ever try peanut butter stir fry? it sounds gross in theory but i’m telling you, it’s amazing when you actually try it,” you explained, putting all the ingredients on the counter, “count me in, I’ll help you with it,” Tim said. 

you had put on music in the background as you and Tim got to cooking. the meal took no more than fifteen minutes to cook before you piled up your plates together and sat down on your couch and dug into it. 

“so, have you met anyone?” you asked Tim, wiggling your eyebrows. he thought for a moment before laughing, “are you talking as in a girlfriend?” he asked. you nodded, “no, I don’t really date, plus, I sort of like someone already,” you were surprised at his confession while also a little saddened. 

a part of you had started to like Tim as he was the one who mended that piece of your heart that Marcel broke. Tim could see that you were taken back by the answer and chuckled. 

“it’s adorable that you haven’t figured it out yet,” he said, making you now confused, “do I know them?” you asked innocently. he rolled his eyes and got closer to your face, “you’re adorable, you know that?” he whispered before placing a quick kiss on your lips. 

all you tasted was the peanut butter on his lips when you immediately kissed back. the plates were set on the small coffee as he brought you in closer as you laid on top of him and situated yourself on his stomach, “i’m guessing it’s me?” you asked playfully, “no kidding,” he murmured before kissing you once again. 

Alex, who had felt his phone vibrate earlier in the night, finally looked to see who it was and excitedly opened it when he realized it was you. you had Snapped him a photo of you and Tim cooking dinner as Tim was slightly holding your waist. 

“oh wow,” Alex said loud enough to catch everyones attention, “what?” Fabian asked curiously. Alex showed the table the photo of the two of you, “guess ( your name ) and Tim are finally together,” Alex mentioned, a small smirk playing on his face. 

“what do you mean finally?” Marcel asked, “the two of them had been seeing each other for a while now and I guess he finally had the nerve to ask her out,” Alex was purposely laying it on thick as he saw the slight jealousy flair up in Marcel’s eyes. 

“good for them,” Walter murmured as Fabian agreed, “right? I can see them ending up married if I’m being honest.”

Marcel, who now was no longer interested in the conversation, checked your socials to see that Alex was right. you had a few photos up of you and Tim together on you Insta as he played your Insta story next. he saw a few photos of you before landing on the photos of tonight. 

you had taken a photo of you and Tim eating dinner. a part of him hated that it was Tim that you landed on to date but Marcel knew that he was the last person you could say anything. he knew you absolutely hated his guts because of how he broke up with you but he felt an annoying feeling plaguing his stomach at the thought of you dating Tim. 

[brokasteltranslations]

Fate/Requiem: Chapter 1

Once upon a time, there was a great war. It happened long ago, before I was born. And then it ended, and the world entered an age of peace.

–

In the modern era, each and every person held within their heart a tiny Holy Grail, which was nothing more or less than that person's preordained destiny. And each and every person was capable of summoning a Servant allotted them by fate, in accordance with the guidance of the Grail.

Servants were an information resource by nature, accumulated throughout human history. Their souls were enshrined in the Throne of Heroes, a place which transcended the bounds of space and time. By 'downloading' them from this Throne, it was possible to manifest them in our world.

–

The shape of the world changed greatly after the war. This town was born anew - reorganised into city units, known collectively as Mosaic City. Among them was Akihabara, the Maritime City, which I called home. Sea levels had risen dramatically as a result of global warming, and now the city quite literally bordered on the ocean. The Kanda river's name was nothing more than a vestige of the pre-war era; in reality, it was nothing more than a canal through which sea water flowed.

–

This town was watched over by the Holy Grail, and not a day went by when its citizens did not partake of its bounties. Those survivors from before the war had been given the opportunity to obtain a Grail upon its conclusion, while those young enough to have been born after the war, like Karin, possessed one within their hearts from birth.

The Grail had brought immortality to the masses. The principal causes of death in the old world – biological factors such as ageing, genetic degradation, infectious diseases, viruses and malignant cancers – had all been conquered. By expending Command Seals, one could even manipulate their biological age. In this city, one of humanity's oldest, dearest wishes – eternal youth – had been realised.

–

But I was different. I alone stood apart. I was the only citizen of this city who had not been granted a Holy Grail. I had been born into this new world, but I would age naturally – and, eventually, die – with all the senselessness characteristic of the old. An irregularity, born outside of the sight of the Grail. That was what I was – me, Utsumi Erice.

With no Holy Grail, I had no Servant to contract with as my partner. Every once in a while, someone would be unable to stifle the urge to ask me how that felt. If it were up to me, I would laugh at them, and tell them that they'd never understand even if I tried to explain – but I'd been chided no small number of times by my master for that. You would be remiss to be callous in your interaction with your social environment, if you wish to live peacefully in this new world.

So, for lack of anything else to say, I answered them like this:

“Imagine you were incredibly short-sighted, to the point where you could hardly see, but you were told you weren't allowed to wear glasses.”

“Imagine being told you had to travel somewhere on foot, while everyone else was allowed to use trains and buses.”

“Imagine going somewhere you've never been before, only to find that the navigation app on your smartphone was an unusable piece of junk.”

The question I had by far the most trouble with was the question of how I survived day-to-day life without Command Seals, which were one of the bounties of the Grail. On that point, no matter how thoroughly I tried to explain, most other people seemed to struggle to understand my situation any more than vaguely, and ultimately had no interest anyway. That was the ideal response, as far as I was concerned. I could find no fault with that.

There were also those who genuinely understood, and responded with exaggerated surprise and sympathy. Some would offer me the usage of their own Command Seals, assuring me with fawning pity that I could come to them if there was ever anything they could do for me. There were even a few so selflessly empathetic that they claimed to truly want to trade places with me – although always with some condition attached, by which they could return things to normal if they so pleased.

Every such encounter reminded me anew that I was nothing more than an amusement to them. A means of flattering their own altruistic sensibilities, and of relieving their boredom for a little while.

Akihabara was a labyrinth in three dimensions, not just two. In a block nestled a comfortable distance from the downtown area on the middle stratum, bordering a natural public park, stood a multi-storey building housing a collection of public service facilities. Contained on one floor of this building was the classroom I frequented.

I had arrived slightly late for the start time, and hurriedly took my seat. The wide, fan-shaped room was almost devoid of students. This was decidedly not a facility for compulsory education; it was offered the people at large educational lecture courses aimed at fostering lifelong learning. Citizens of all ages took the course, and attending every single lecture was virtually unheard-of. Consequently, I was known as something of an eccentric.

The people here knew nothing of the battle of immortals that occurred last night. Those kinds of incidents never made the news.

–

Well then – it was time for Pre-War Human History.

That was the name of the course I was taking. Unfortunately, it could hardly have been called the most popular subject. The content of the lectures was much closer to trivia than education. The main goal of Pre-War Human History comprised learning about the human race's greatest triumphs and blunders in the world of the past. It was...well, to put it bluntly, dry.

In the first place, Akihabara was Mosaic City's premier resort. Students who were sincerely striving to learn, or families concerned with the proper education of their children, would simply up and leave for another district. I had an inclination that this space only really existed to entertain the interests of the lecturer at the front of the hall – my master, Ms. Fujimura.

–

Oh, it looks like that girl's here again.

I cast a quick glance out over the lecture theatre from my usual perch at the back. A small, familiar figure was sat in the very front row, concentrating intently on the lecture. She had come again today. As a rule, I never saw students younger than myself attending these lectures, so she had stuck in my memory. She was a pale child, short in stature, and perhaps old enough to be at the upper end of elementary school. Her voice and attitude during the occasions that she posed questions to the lecturer had given me the impression that she was female, but there was no guarantee. All kinds of people lived in this city.

Her had was invariably pulled down low over her head, and her eyes were covered by her bangs, so I hadn't ever seen her face clearly. I had never engaged her in conversation, and I didn't even know her name. She appeared in lectures once a month or so; I felt a distinct disconnect between her keen attitude in lectures and her abysmal attendance rate.

Today, her standing record for youngest lecture attendee had been broken. The new champion was none other than my companion: the stray Servant I had taken in last night, the golden-haired child. He was at least sitting in his seat for now without making a fuss, but he was fidgeting constantly - rocking his body to and fro, and sometimes lying down as though trying to savour the feeling of the cool wood of the chair. Or so I was thinking, before he suddenly turned to peer into my face, obstructing my view of my tablet.

“You think you're a cat or something?”

“...Ca-...cat?”

“Maybe you're more of a dog, huh. Your hair's all floofy.”

“Dog?”

“Yeah, a dog. You know, woof-woof.”

“I know dogs.”

“Oh, really? Well, I'm glad for y- what the hell do you think you're doing!?”

He had scrambled up onto the seat of his chair, planted both hands on the desk and begun to howl, loud and proud.

Awooooo! Ow-ow-owooo! Awoooooo!

He finished his surprisingly accurate rendition, flashing a beaming smile. I sat for a moment in silent astonishment – and might perhaps have thought for a moment that it was a little endearing, although this really wasn't the time for that.

“Hey, stop that! Get down from there!”

Give me a break. I was just about to give you credit for at least not being as loud as Karin, and you go and pull this. The other attendees were turning back to look at us now, searching for the source of the noise.

“I'm sorry. We'll be quiet. I'm really sorry.”

My master had stopped giving her lecture, and was cocking her head at us. The girl in the front row was looking too. If looks could kill, the glare boring into me from beneath her bangs would have dropped me stone dead. Although I couldn't exactly blame her for getting annoyed at someone bringing this commotion into a class.

Yes miss I'm so terribly sorry I won't do it again...ugh, what did I do to deserve this...

I had no way of knowing how to handle a young child like this boy in the first place – but that said, I also couldn't possible have left him behind in my apartment by himself. And I had thought to myself that I might learn something about him if I brought him here with me.

“Don't dogs say “bow-wow” in English, anyway?”

“Boh-roh.”

“Not even close. Must be nice to be able to mimic things like that, huh...”

Ohh boy. Starting to get the feeling I'm not going to be learning much from today's lecture...

I rested my head on my hand and pouted. Gazing idly at the young boy's angelic face out of the corner of my eye, I cast my mind back through my memories of my baptism last night.

It had happened on the previous evening, after I had been fished from the riverbed by Karin and Kouyou on the wharf. To cut a long story short, I decided to take the boy back to my apartment and put him up for the night, still none the wiser about who he was or where he had come from.

–

I had been living on my own ever since parting ways with my grandmother.

In a quiet corner of Akihabara, there was a small, depopulated district that most people avoided. Before the war, it had comprised a collection of multi-purpose buildings crammed to bursting with shops, but they had all been abandoned after the Grail's large-scale restructuring of the city. My apartment consisted of a room in one such building.

The inside of the room was decorated in Victorian style. Every inch of floor was covered by wooden floorboards, and its antique interior had been preserved unaltered. Apparently, it had originally housed some kind of dubious culinary establishment known as a “maid cafe”.

–

My apartment wasn't exactly designed for ease of living, but it was furnished with a proper bathroom and bedroom, and was more than sufficient for one person to live in comfortably. It even had a veranda, albeit a small one. From the window of my bedroom I could gaze out over a small vertical slice of ocean hemmed in by the surrounding buildings.

–

My opportunities to invite another person back to this humble abode were rare. Considering my job, the risks involved in freely letting others know where I lived were far too high. The only reason I had brought this child back with me was that it would have been too irresponsible to leave him to his own devices. I didn't even know who his contractor was; to have allowed him to freely roam the town would have been unthinkable.

He might have manifested in the form of an innocent child, but that only set me more on edge. I had allowed myself to be disarmed by a target's outward appearance before, on a previous job, and had made a grave mistake because of it. A Servant I had believed nothing more than an angelic young child - like purity itself sculpted in alabaster - had harboured a terrible darkness. The Avenger, Louis XVII. The incident that arose around that particular monstrosity had ultimately claimed not only the life of his Master, but those of a great number of innocents as well.

At the time, I had not yet fully graduated from childhood. Louis and I had been similar in stature, and I had thought we could have been good friends. In the end, however, my friendship and goodwill had been used and turned against me. That incident was not one I would forget easily.

–

There was another reason that I had brought this stray child back with me: I had been driven to my wits' end in another sense. Frankly speaking, I could not take it any more: the rank stench that permeated the both of us had become unbearable, and I could not bear to go another minute without washing it off.

The culprit was the oil slick near the quay that I'd had the ill fortune to be dragged through when I was fished out of the Kanda river. Petroleum-based waste oil, that had leaked from one of the boats moored in the harbour. I had hardly had the time to worry about such things immediately after being deposited on the wharf, but now that I had returned to my senses the discomfort was driving me to distraction. Pouring water over myself or wiping myself down with paper towels would do nothing to remove this - I needed a proper bath.

I had been stopped by a worried Karin when I had tried to totter my way home, still bearing a serious wound that I had no right to have recovered from so quickly. She had only seen me off after I had explained about the charms and such that I kept in my house. She was easygoing like that.

I had tried to invite her to stay the night here, but she had breezily turned me down, saying that she had a friend in the vicinity who would put her up for the night. Karin's social connections remained as much a mystery to me as ever. Although she had given me a rueful smile, saying that her family would be angry with her for returning home the following morning.

–

In any case, I had finally returned home, and could allow myself to relax a little. I looked the boy over once more, this time with the aid of my apartment's artificial lights.

“Hold on. Hey, no, wait, wait, wait! Don't just go right in! Just stand here for a minute.”

I grabbed him by his sodden scarf and yanked him back, prompting a visible sulk.

“Uh...sorry.”

So he did possess emotions, and the capacity to appeal to them. That would be useful, at least.

Both of us looked ridiculous, soaked from head to toe and glistening with oil. I was at least wearing swimwear and a windbreaker in place of my ordinary clothes, but his lot was a much more miserable one. I could feel my memories of the unearthly spectacle I had witnessed below the surface of the water growing more distant by the minute.

Alll-righty. I pulled myself together, and sank to one knee in the entranceway, looking over this child once more from top to toe.

He at least appeared to be eight, maybe nine years old. He was Caucasian, with the pale features particular to Scandinavian climes - although given that Servants were as much concept as they were genetics, any attempt to determine their race was close to meaningless. His hair was a pale blonde, almost white, and it had been left to grow freely.

His scarf was sodden, and hung limp around his neck. Or maybe it was a muffler? Well, it wasn't as though it mattered. It was composed of fabric knitted from some strange, gaudy material – it was hard to say if it was actual gold, or just extremely intricate needlework. His clothing looked to be made of cotton, and had a simple design, reminiscent of a Greek-style tunic. He had a small embroidered design on his chest, which I made a note of as a potentially important clue.

His belt and shoes were made of the same material as his scarf. The heels of the latter had a strange design; they were tapered towards the back, like spurs used for riding horses. I could have taken that as an indication that in life he had been some sort of knight – but nothing else about him gave that impression. He's nothing like any other Saber or Rider-class Servants I've seen.

His pale blue eyes stared back at me questioningly as I scrutinised him. I was seized by a sudden rush of curiosity.

“Hey. Do you think you could tell me where you came from?”

He smoothly lifted an arm to point towards the ceiling.

“From the sky? From Heaven? You don't mean from the moon, do you?”

He shook his head at all of them.

“I've come...from somewhere very far away.”

“All Servants have.”

“...Really?” He must have found something amusing, because his face blossomed into a smile, and he giggled. I was relieved at the unexpected ease with which I was able to communicate with him, although it seemed like he was still struggling to understand what I was saying.

His first words had been in halting English, but from the way he had appeared to be listening in on the conversation between me and Karin I would venture that he at least understood our language. If he was a Servant who had been summoned legitimately, he would have been granted a bare minimum level of common knowledge about the modern era by the Grail, as well as the linguistic capabilities necessary to express himself to others naturally. However, now that I was trying to determine his true name, that was only serving to impede my search.

As I questioned him, I produced a pair of scissors and carefully snipped a five-millimetre length of thread from the back of his tunic, which I deposited in a zip-lock sample bag.

“Would you mind letting me take one of your hairs as well?”

It looked like he was giving me the ok. He did as I asked, without resisting, and as I did he asked me a question.

“Have you come from somewhere far away like me, Eri?”

“Don't call me that. Did you get that from Karin? Alright, listen here. I'm not “Eri”, I'm not “Old man Eri”, and I'm not “Eri-pie”. I'm Erice. Utsumi Erice.”

“Hmm.”

He remained staring at me, giving me no indication whether or not he'd understood. His reaction was a little dispiriting, but I continued anyway. If I kept talking, I might be able to glean something.

“It's not all that far away, really. I was born in Shinjuku. I'm fourteen now, so I guess you could call me a middle schooler, but I don't usually go to school anyway.”

“What's a 'school'?”

“A school is...it's where you go to learn. It's a big building where lots of children all go. Or at least, that's what I hear it was like before the war. They've changed a lot since then.”

“You don't go to school, Eri?”

“I told you to call me Erice. And I don't need to. I'm passing my academic evaluations, and I'm getting the credits I need from extracurricular courses. And I show up for health inspections and such.”

“You don't want to go to school, do you?”

I grit my teeth. He'd hit the nail on the head. He was annoyingly good at that.

“It's...not a matter of whether I want to go or not. I...I have more important things to do.”

“You're alone.” He cocked his head, and then broke out into another smile. “Just like me.”

I suppressed my irritation silently as I tapped at my tablet. I was trying a search for the symbol embroidered on his chest, but nothing was coming up. Just in case, I tried accessing the city network, but no-one had registered any missing Servants - although it wasn't as though that was a frequent occurrence anyway. I could ask my master about any information that might be being suppressed on a public level, but I could hardly go blithely to her cap-in-hand. Not after I had tried to hide from her that I had disobeyed her orders and let Kundry go.

Even so, there was one theory as to his identity that I had managed to come up with. Spurred on by that, I decided to bite the bullet.

“So, which Servant are you?”

“...?”

He tilted his head in confusion. Was he trying to play dumb? It didn't look like an act, at any rate. It seemed that somehow, he really didn't understand the concept of a Servant. Was that even possible?

“I'm asking about your true name. Although your nickname will do, if that's better-known.”

Once, Servants would not have revealed their true name lightly, but that was before the war. In the modern world, it had become more of a question of personal privacy. No small number of Servants had origins that could complicate life in Mosaic City if they became known to others, and the degree of discretion necessary might also change depending on their relationship with their Master.

This boy likely wouldn't talk about his true name if his unknown Master did not wish it. And all the more so if he didn't have one at all.

“Your name, I said. Tell me your name.”

“...Name?”

“That's right. Your name.”

“Don't you know it?”

“...Huh? Don't I...you mean my name?”

It was supposed to be me asking the questions here. I was starting to feel that if I just allowed this wide-eyed child to talk at his own pace, I would end up the one being profiled.

Abruptly, he opened his mouth again. “There's something I've lost.”

“Something you've lost? What did you lose?”

“I don't know.”

I heaved a sigh. At the same moment, a sharp stench once more pricked at my nostrils.

“It sounds like you're suffering from memory loss. I think things like that can happen after summoning...? Well, anyway, there's nothing we can do for now. And I'm about at my wits' end, so right now I'm going to have a shower. I'll let you use the bathroom too, so go on ahead.”

“Show-er?”

“A shower. You know, like a bath.”

“...A bath?”

“Wait, you really don't know? Don't tell me you don't even know what a shower is? Hang on, have you ever even had a wash?”

He shook his head. Apparently he really hadn't ever experienced a bath. Although even if he hadn't, surely the idea itself fell under common knowledge.

Do your job, Holy Grail.

For as long as I had lived here, my bathroom had been rather chic. It had a French-style interior, and was easily wide enough for two people. The star of the show was a shallow enamel bathtub, pulled straight from a western movie. Incidentally, the bedroom was decorated in equally charming fashion, and was the biggest reason I chose this apartment.

The design was uncharacteristically luxurious for a department store coffee shop. Either the owner had been extremely specific tastes...or from the beginning, this building had been designed with less-than-wholesome purposes in mind. Probably the latter. Not that that had anything to do with me; I was nothing more than a grateful beneficiary. But it did mean one more thing for Karin to tease me about.

I gritted my teeth, and led the boy by the hand to the bathroom. He was still dawdling, unsure as to what was going on. I had him take off his clothes and made him stand in the dressing room. Then I set to filling the bathtub, removing my own dirtied clothing as I did so. He's just a kid. What's there to be embarrassed about? Nothing! That's right, nothing at all.

There was still an outside chance that he would turn out to have the mind of a middle-aged man, but I'd cross that bridge if I came to it.

“I suppose I'd better put my swimsuit in to soak...ouch!”

Agony lanced through me as I twisted my body the wrong way. I re-treated the injury to my abdomen, and covered it over with a water-resistant patch. It was still undergoing accelerated recovery, and it was warm to the touch. The wound was serious enough that with the treatment methods of the past, oligemic shock and acute inflammation would have been unavoidable. But this new world had conquered death itself, and treatments for injuries and accidents had not been overlooked on the way. Many technologies had been developed during the war, and now I reaped the benefits.

“It looks like it hurts.”

“Well, maybe a little.”

His eyes were drawn to the scar on my ear, and he screwed up his face.

“It isn’t nice, is it? Every thorn-prick makes its own hole.”

“...You said it.”

Was he worrying that I might be left with a scar, in his own way? If so, he was quite the gentleman.

“But it's ok. Kouyou patched it up for me, so it'll heal with time.”

For my part, I carefully looked his naked body up and down once more. This was a vital step in my investigation, and thus an entirely proper and lawful act.

He was...definitely a boy, yep.

–

Once I had painstakingly washed away the cause of the stench, I finally entered the bathtub - along with the boy, who was trying to escape at any opportunity.

“It's hot.”

“That's what's good about it. Ordinary Servants love to take baths. They're all very happy to get in. There are even some who have baths as their Noble Phantasms. There's one who summons this great big bathchamber, called Terme di Caracalla...”

“I want to get out.”

He was pulling a very sullen expression, but at least he was being obedient.

I can't see any scars on him. His muscles and weight don't seem any different from a normal child's, either. I found it very hard to believe that he might be some kind of knight summoned in their youth. When he'd said that he didn't know what a bath was, the first thing I'd suspected was child abuse; Heroic Spirits who had come from such unhappy backgrounds were too numerous to count. But he showed no sign of having received that kind of treatment, or at least not outwardly.

My confidence in my hypothesis was growing stronger, and I decided to put it to the test.

–

I stretched out from the bathtub. With the steam-clouded mirror as my canvas, I drew a picture of a hat with my fingertip. It was a crude sketch of an old-fashioned, wide-brimmed men's hat with a slightly indented top, as seen from the side.

“Hey. Can you tell me what this is?” I asked him hesitantly, my chest pounding nervously. It only took a brief glance at the picture before he answered.

“It's...a snake.”

I started. For a moment, I was lost for words.

“It looks like it's eaten something big.”

He'd answered my question perfectly.

“It scares me a little.”

Droplets fell from his body as he shivered and turned away. I hadn't even imagined that he might show such a violent reaction. I quickly wiped away the picture on the mirror, and found myself patting his head to try and reassure him. I could feel the slickness of his wet hair and the warmth of his body through the palm of my hand.

“What about “B-612”? Or maybe you could call it “Besixdouze”?”

“Yes.” He nodded in answer. No hesitation.

“You know it?”

“It's a planet, isn't it? But there's no-one there.”

I was silent for a moment. That's right. It's a planet. Of course it is.

“I see...so there's no-one there. But I think...I might know your true name now.”’  

B-612 was the name of an asteroid that orbited the solar system. It was not remarkable in any way, save for the fact that it had been discovered by a Japanese national. It would hardly be included in the common knowledge that the Holy Grail bestowed upon Servants. But that asteroid was named for a novella from a foreign country, and the title of that novella was “The Little Prince”.

On a sudden impulse, I embraced him. In the bathtub, I wrapped my arms around his narrow shoulders from behind, and squeezed him tight. So as not to break him. So as not to hurt him.

“If only...if only you had been my Servant...”

He showed no sign of answering me.

Before entering the bathtub, as I was washing myself, I had checked everywhere. Desperately, I had searched to see if Command Seals, the proof of a contract with a Servant, had appeared anywhere on my body. I had strained my eyes in the mirror, checking my back, beneath the translucent medical patch, even the soles of my feet. But they were nowhere to be seen.

Then I was no-one's Master. I could not have made any contract with this boy through the Grail. I was just the Reaper, the same as I had always been.

In that case, what had that sense of foreboding been?

What had that trembling been in my chest? That sense that something had begun that would change my life forever?

In the end, it had all just been my own wishful thinking.

–

After the bath, we retired to my living-cum-dining room, where a mahogany table had stood ever since this place was a cafe. The boy sat in a chair, working his way through a lasagne that I had microwaved from frozen. I was recording the day's events, tablet in hand and a towel around my head, and I was blushing as red as his bolognese sauce. I felt incredibly embarrassed. This boy hadn't even yet come of age, but I had suddenly embraced him, whispered something that felt almost like a confession of love, and then ended up crying. While naked, no less.

His only response, after a while had passed, had been to furrow his eyebrows and complain “It's hot”.

“Is that good?”, I asked.

“It tastes.”

“Really? Sounds great.”

The samples I had taken earlier were on the table. Both contents of the zip-lock bag had vanished, just as I had expected. Separated from his body, his hair and the thread from his tunic had ceased to exist in their pseudo-physical form, and had reverted to being part of his mana. In other words, his body and the clothes he wore were woven from the stuff. That made for strong evidence that he was a Servant - but it was unneeded, because an easier way to tell was right before my eyes. The clothes that I had left on the floor of the dressing room had since returned to a clean, dry state.

The scarf that he wore around his neck floated freely, with no regard for the laws of physics. Even while he was eating, it fluttered gently, as though rising upon the wind. Needless to say, there was no wind inside my apartment.

He couldn't be the Simoun...could he? The poison wind?

–

The night had grown late, and I wrestled with the sleepiness and exhaustion that assailed me as I stared at my tablet. I thought back to the words I had exchanged with the Flying Dutchman, Captain Van der Decken. Every word of the warning he had given me lay heavy on my breast.

Until it became clear that our enemy was the mad queen, he had maintained a policy of non-interference, and only once had he commented on my methods. He had been cursed by a devil of the ocean. My lot was not too dissimilar - for I too was cursed, and possessed by evil spirits. Living my life beyond the sight of the Grail, I might as well have been a naked offering to them. But that was also the reason that I'd lasted as long as I had in this job.

I had let my guard down. I had allowed myself to believe that Captain Van der Decken and I might have been able to find an understanding, as bearers of the same fate. But he had seen through those naïve expectations, and had roughly spurned my advances.

“You have grown to feel joy in the act of slaying Servants, under the pretence of executing the authority of the city. Though you think yourself the master of your spectres, they in turn use you.”

He was telling me, in a roundabout way, that I was intoxicated by the idea of being a superhero. That what I had believed to be pride was in fact conceit.

“Someday, Erice, you will call forth a great evil. And when that time comes, that which you have clung to so dearly will instead force you to your knees.”

Unable to accept his words and fiercely ashamed, I had retorted with some frivolous argument - although I could admit now that it had just been something I had cooked up to make myself feel better. At the time I had thought he was just trying to put me in my place, but thinking back on it now, his words might have been as much in reproach of himself as they had been for me. His relationship with his contractor Aheseurus - equal in spite of being Master and Servant - spoke more eloquently of his sincerity than words ever could.

“Are you paying attention, Erice?”

I was brought out of my reverie by my master's polite chiding.

“You seem very tired. Perhaps it might be for the best if you took a moment to rest in the break room? I can prepare the lecture material for your perusal later, if you'd like.”

I let out a whimper. This was embarrassing. My second disgrace this morning. I shook my head vigorously. My master nodded, and recommenced the lecture in a soft voice.

–

Her name was Caren Fujimura. She was the lecturer responsible for this class, and also my master. I had known her for as long as I could walk.

Outwardly, she appeared to be in her twenties. She had light amber eyes, and wavy, pale grey hair that cascaded down to the small of her back. Her body combined a slender build with voluptuous Hispanic curves. Most notable of all, however, was her impeccable sense of style. Nobody else could come close to its audacity. Today, too, she looked sharp as a knife.

Or at least, I thought so, but waxing lyrical on the subject only seemed to earn me pained smiles from Karin and others. Well, it wasn't as though I cared anyway. If I was the only one who could understand her magnificence, so be it.

“...?”

The boy, who had been quiet at my side for a long time, had begun focusing on my master when she had spoken to me. Now he turned his gaze to the skirt of my school uniform, then to his own trousers, and cocked his head. He turned his head to make one more pass, carefully comparing, and then spoke with some conviction.

“She isn't wearing anything down there.”

“That she isn't.”

My master really was incredible.

It was not on account of her position as my lecturer that I called Caren Fujimura my master. Nor was it on account of her being my fashion role model. She was inhuman, in every way, and not in the sense of being part of the new postwar humanity. She was an artificial intelligence – an AI.

More precisely, she was the municipal administration AI tasked with the management of the Akihabara ward. A human interface that allowed the Grail to communicate directly with the people of the city. A hybrid intelligence – the most valuable in the city – born of the fusion of summoning magecraft, modelled on the kind that called forth Heroic Spirits, and cutting-edge information engineering technology. Such was the true nature of Caren Fujimura.

–

Ms. Fujimura's lecture on pre-war human history continued. Today's topic was the history and profiles of the great pioneers. Those brave adventurers who sailed west on crude wooden vessels, carving a path to an unknown lands. Those bold explorers who discovered – or rediscovered – the distant new world, and secured the shipping routes that would become the lifeblood of a global civilisation.

–

She spoke of Eric the Red, who crossed from Europe to Greenland and settled there. Of his son, Lief Ericsson, who made landfall in the northeast of North America and named it “Vinland”. Of the roots of the Polynesians, who propagated across the islands of the south Pacific in canoes little better than rafts, and were sometimes set adrift by rogue currents to journey thousands of kilometres.

Of Christopher Columbus, the conqueror who never once lost sight of his dream; who sailed to the farthest reaches of the western sea aboard the legendary Santa Maria, and there rediscovered the new world. Of Vasco de Gama, who crossed the Cape of Good Hope and pioneered the Indian trade route. Of the Cape itself - the southern tip of the African continent and one of the great perils of the Age of Discovery, where Captain Van der Decken's Dutch galleon met its fate upon the rocks.

She told of Ferdinand Magellan, whose vessels first circumnavigated the world. Although he perished before the completion of his journey, his feat proclaimed to the world beyond all doubt that the earth was not flat, but round. Through him, the people came to know that the world they lived on was just one more celestial body like the moon or Mars, forging silently onwards through the void.

And here too was the first captain to circumnavigate the globe: Francis Drake, the privateer! Ah, here was the magnificent Golden Hind! I had already been absorbed in the lecture, but here my excitement reached its zenith, my mind filling with daydreams of the open sea.

From Servants who had lived through the same era, I had heard tales that Drake, the admiral who broke the back of the invincible Spanish Armada, had in truth been a woman more gallant than any man. That the man who set the sun had, in fact, been the woman who set the sun. I personally found them impossible to believe, and I'd also heard them refuted by other pirate Servants. Stories like that ain't nothin' more'n piss in the wind, girly. Drake was a man, sure as my beard is long.

It was a common enough story when it came to Servants. Some ages of history had placed little importance on gender distinctions. Conversely, in others women had been so oppressed that they could only perform heroic deeds whilst disguised in men's clothing. Such confusion was liable to muddy historical records.

Even if Drake had been female, it would do nothing to tarnish the glory of her legend.

–

My enriching study time was now approaching its end, although I had struggled to focus on all of the contents of the lecture.

“I would like to give a brief introduction to one final figure. An American man whose one small step signified a giant leap for mankind.”

The screen changed in sync with Ms. Fujimura's commentary. Now it displayed a world of extreme contrasts: a sea of grey regolith, and the dark vacuum of space. Within the shadow thrown by a lunar lander, a figure in a space suit descended a ladder to stand upon the moon's surface.

“This was the first man to stand on the face of the moon. He, too, counts among the great pioneers of the human race.”

“...Eh...?”

A single voice arose, quavering not with wonder but with astonishment.

“A human went to the moon...? A living human?”

The source of the voice was none other than the young girl in the front row.

“Indeed. It would be fifty-six years before the modern day. Three astronauts ventured to the moon, and two among them descended to walk upon its surface.”

“More than half a century ago? There weren't even control units back then capable of calculating orbital trajectories-”

“There were.”

Another video resource flashed onto the screen. This time it showed a bulky copper box that must have weighed dozens of kilograms, and a small keyboard. The commentary indicated that this was the Apollo spaceship's guidance computer.

“Single-core, 8-bit. A most splendid computer to be mounted in the lunar lander. It likely had less than one ten-thousandth the processing power of the smartphones you all have in your pockets. And yet it was enough to guide the lander by autopilot, even though human error necessitated its rebooting just prior to landing.”

Ms. Fujimura sounded almost triumphant now. There had been a strange change in her expression, although it was so slight I doubted anyone but me would even have a chance of noticing. Perhaps, for an AI, it was a point of pride to be able to talk about the vital contribution a computer had made to one of humanity's most historic achievements.

No, that's not it...

She was delighting in the shock her student was experiencing, from her first contact with this knowledge. She was revelling in it. The girl retracted her body and sat back down in her seat, fuming.

“That's irresponsible. It's reckless.”

“Indeed it was. It was one of the most reckless ventures in human history, and precious lives were lost along the way.”

“That's all the more reason it could never have happened!”

As though scoffing at our worries from across the ages, the portly figure of the spaceman upon the screen began to moonwalk, gleefully bounding across the moon's surface. He was humming to himself merrily, like some shameless delinquent.

“Rather carefree, isn't he? One would never think only a thin spacesuit separated him from the zero-pressure vacuum and the hellish 110-degree temperatures outside.”

My master smiled faintly, as she expressed her admiration for the men in the video. Even when they raced their moon buggies across the lunar plain, they were rough and careless, as though they were driving go-karts at some amusement park. The girl at the front returned to gazing at the video, a flabbergasted expression on her face.

“Ah...ahaha...!” I couldn't help bursting out in laughter.

Her shoulders trembled a little. I'd picked an awful time.

–

The “Great Pioneers” instalment concluded by saying that although the human race had raised its flag in one great unknown after the other – first the new world beyond the seas, then the distant skies, and finally the void of space – landing a group of carefree delinquents on the surface of the moon had marked the end of their exploits. Not once since had they set their sights on anything farther. The Apollo generation's dream of a grand conquest of the stars remained a dream to this day. Mars, Venus and the outer space beyond the solar system remained unknown to the print of human boot.

I wondered if perhaps the human race had, somewhere along its way, lost sight of something incredibly precious.

I wondered if perhaps someday there might rise once again, on the edge of the farthest frontier, someone worthy of being called a hero. Someone who would lead mankind forth once more towards a new world.

“Hey, there you are, Eri-pie! Wanne grab some food?”

Karin burst into the classroom just as the lecture had ended. She must have guessed where I would be. I had thought she might have returned home after the events of last night, but she must have remained in Akihabara.

“Oh, it's you, Karin. I'll hold off for now. I've still got things I need to do.”

“Ehh? Hasn't your class just wrapped up?”

“Well, yeah, but I'm not talking about class.”

“Oh, the shrimp's tagging along? Good, good. You put some proper breakfast in him, right? What's he been eatin'?”

“Cereal. And some water.”

“Oh, ouch. You know that's child abuse, right? Like, I should probably be calling a social worker about now?”

“Just give it a rest, geez...”

I hadn't been back to my apartment for the past few days, and my reserves had all expired, so I had ended up with very little by way of food. I hadn't so much as forced cereal and water on him as noticed his interest in the food I was hurriedly shovelling down and shared a little.

Servants didn't typically require meals in the usual sense, but in the post-war world where they had become commonplace, more care was being paid to improving their quality of life. There were even some citizens' groups that insisted that they had a right to live the same as humans. In my view, Servants were fundamentally inhuman existences, and I saw those attempts to impose human restrictions on something unbound by the framework of nature as little more than evidence of their Masters' egotism – although I couldn't deny that might just have been the bitter prejudice of a have-not speaking.

“Sssssssup! Morning, Caren!”

“Good morning to you too, Karin.”

Ms. Fujimura approached the two of us.

“Karin...and Caren...?”

The boy looked between the two, confused.

“Yeah, you got it. Pain in the ass, right? The Caren in Akihabara has this kinda grown-up, sexy feel to her. The one back home is a lot more, uh...wha-chaa!”

“What's “wha-chaa!” supposed to mean? And you should be calling her Ms. Fujimura.” Karin had drawn one knee up to strike a kung-fu pose. I gave her a smack.

“Karin lives in the Shibuya district. The me who lives there is a drawer for a Chinese restaurant.” My master smiled gently. I wondered what it felt like, to know there were different versions of herself active all over the city.

A few elderly students were still hanging around in the classroom, chatting amongst themselves. My master ushered us from the room, and we relocated to a terrace protruding from midway up the building. This was a leisure space, and it commanded a wide view of the sprawl of Akihabara. At this early hour, the sea breeze was light, and the sun was not too strong. It was just cool enough that that shaded areas were still a little chilly.

The distant rumble of a train smoothly pulling in from the oversea viaduct drifted to us from across the water, along with the faint toot of its horn. Beyond the horizon, where the railway vanished, lay Shinjuku and Shibuya.

“So this child is the Servant with the unknown Master?”

“That's right.”

I had already informed her about the situation in advance, but I took the opportunity to introduce the boy to her in person.

“To tell the truth, I already have a good guess as to his identity. Although he doesn't really react to what I say most of the time. He doesn't seem to be entirely all there.”

I took the plunge, and told her about last night's discoveries – hoping somewhere deep down this made up for the regret I felt at keeping quiet about Kundry's flight and the events that had followed.

“Antoine de Saint-Exupéry...? A French author, as I recall, and one of great renown. He was also an accomplished pilot, and served in the Second World War. You believe this child's identity to be this Saint-Exupéry?”

The object of our scrutiny, the child in question, showed no reaction to the name. He took a sip of the freshly-squeezed orange juice that Karin had bought from a juice stand, and pulled a face. Sour.

“His appearance is a poor match, even taking into account the age difference.” I could sense my master checking records in the background, and cross-referencing them with the child in front of her. I pressed on with my next hypothesis.

“I think he's the Little Prince. Don't you think he looks just like Saint-Exupéry's illustrations?”

The Little Prince was an allegorical short story. It was the last completed work by Saint-Exupéry, who passed away at a young age. Whether online or in physical bookshops, one would inevitably find it in the children's book category, but it couldn't be more different to the fairy tales it rubbed shoulders with on the shelves. That said, nor was it something like the Bible, whose every line existed to be quoted and venerated. It was a comforting presence, like a familiar friend at your side, always ready with a lighthearted quip or a sobering anecdote. Or so I thought, anyway.

“Eh? So you're a prince, are you? Hmmmm? Now you mention it, he does look kinda regal. Think he'd make a good match with my Momi? She is a princess, you know. Whaddaya think?”

Karin pinched the boy's cheek, grinning wickedly, and he turned his head away in clear discomfort. I decided to leave them to it, and added to my master that last night the boy had answered my riddle with the keyword that only the Little Prince would know.

“I see...” She struck a contemplative pose as I continued.

“I'm aware that he doesn't look very much like Saint-Exupéry. That's why I'm wondering if he could be an author Servant who's taken on the form of a character from one of his own works. I'm sure there are examples of that.”

“There are indeed. Many authors' works leave a far greater impression on the world to come than the men themselves. Many more choose such forms of their own accord. However, if you would permit me my personal opinion - ”

She left a beat, pushing up her glasses.

“ - I would conjecture that Saint-Exupéry would project himself not onto the Little Prince, but onto the Pilot who narrates the story. It was, after all, his own experience of crash-landing in the Sahara desert that formed the basis for the book.”

“Ah...yes, I...I suppose...”

She was right. Given the content of the book, it was an entirely legitimate criticism. She was saying that this child was likely something fundamentally different to just some writer Servant with perverse tendencies and a strong capacity for empathy.

While I hadn't been watching, the subject of out conversation had begun sipping on a honey-lemon drink. He must have traded his orange juice with Karin. This was evidently more to his tastes; he was smiling broadly.

“I have conferred with the Caren units in the other districts, but he does not appear to match any Servant under our jurisdiction. I cannot even venture more than vague hypotheses as to his class.” It seemed that as an AI, she was capable of communicating with her other units in the background even as she talked with me.

So he wasn't a lost Servant who had wandered in from some other district. At the very least, we now knew that there was no record of Saint-Exupéry being registered as a Servant anywhere in Mosaic City.

“Please do not be disheartened, Erice. I do not mean to dismiss your opinion; the possibility remains. And just by having secured him, you have already done a wonderful job.”

“I suppose...”

“He seems to be stable, aside from his memories, so I will fit him with a classification tag. For as long as he continues to reside in this town, I will refer to him as “The Little Prince (TBD)””.

“...'Brackets...TBD'...?”

“Guess so. Would be a pain in the ass if he didn't have a name, right? Brackets, TBD.” Karin cheerily patted the Little Prince (TBD) on the head.

“Um...about last night's incident...” I straightened my back, and tried to change the topic to my report of the previous night's events – and suddenly my master stood up from her seat, looking at me ruefully.

“I owe you an apology, Erice. A matter has sprung up that requires my urgent attention. Would you mind submitting your report as a brief text document?”

“Eh...? I mean...of course.”

I felt relieved, but at the same time more concerned. Whatever this urgent matter was, this was the first I'd heard of it, and my master was not known for changing her schedule lightly.

“But what do you think I should do about him?”

“That was my next point. I am sorry to ask this of you, but would you mind taking charge of him for the time being? If his identity becomes clear during that time, all the better.”

“Eh-?”

My master's eyes narrowed into a smile as my mouth clamped shut. The already-unusual situation had just taken a turn for the stranger.

“No way, no way, no way. Isn't that going to be a problem? With my job and everything?”

“No other individual in Akihabara is so equipped to tackle as exceptional a case. To call you a specialist in the handling of Servants would not be an exaggeration.”

It would. It absolutely would. My specialisation was not the handling of Servants - it was murder. Restraining the most villainous of Servants, and keeping them under strict surveillance, I could do. But I was not nearly so capable of attending to the needs of a young boy, barely any different from an ordinary human child, who didn't even know his own name.

Karin chipped in. “Can't he just bunk at my place? What's an extra brother or two, anyway?”

“Quite a lot, I think...”

Karin's suggestion was extraordinarily irresponsible, but my master only inclined her head. “My thanks for your hospitality Karin, but I am afraid that I cannot yet say what threat this child poses. I cannot permit him to reside with ordinary citizens.”

“I'm tellin' you, it's cool. I've got Momi, don't I? It'll be fine!”

Karin dug in deeper, and my master responded with another polite but firm refusal. In all honesty, it would have been a weight off my mind – although I wouldn't say that the notion of Karin taking responsibility for a portion of my job didn't grate on me a little.

Just as I was becoming aware of my own troublesome misgivings, a newcomer hurriedly approached the recreation space where we were conversing.

“Caren Fujimura? If you wouldn't mind, there's something I'd like to ask you.”

It was her – the girl in the hat from the front row. She had run out of the classroom just before the lecture had ended, conversing with someone over her smartphone. She must have returned now that her conversation had ended.

“It's nice to see you, Haruko. Do you have a question for me about the lecture?”

“That's right. I wanted to ask about the role of astrology during the Age of Discovery-” A sudden squall blew through the terrace, and she clutched at her hat, pulling it down tightly over her ears. I saw my chance and hurriedly forced my way into the conversation – although really, she had been the one who had interrupted us.

“H-hang on a moment. I was already talking with Ms. Fujimura...”

She glared at me in silence. Her brilliant peppermint-green eyes glinted from behind a parting in her fringe. “It was only thanks to the repeated interruptions from you and your Servant that I didn't have the opportunity to ask these questions during the lecture.”

“Well, I'm...I'm sorry about that. But, well, you see, he's not exactly my Servant...”

“Is that so? My apologies. But as his guardian, you should be more conscious of your responsibility to ensure he does not cause trouble for others in public spaces.”

Her motions – her gait, and even the way she was holding down her hat - were clipped and precise. She was barely taller than the innocent child drinking juice by my side, but she somehow seemed many years his elder. Beneath the white gown I had seen so often in lectures, she was wearing a slightly old-fashioned bright yellow blouse.

I'm positive...I've seen those clothes before somewhere... Now where was it?

“Um...you mentioned astrology, didn't you? If you're curious about the involvement of magecraft in human history, why don't you go to the library? You'd be able to research it as much as you wanted.”

I'd intended it as a sincere and respectful recommendation...but instead she expelled a short, sharp sigh, and her attitude became palpably frostier. This was getting awkward.

“You're telling me to go to the library? That would be far less efficient than asking an administrative AI – I mean, Ms. Fujimura directly. I would have thought that someone who went to the trouble of attending lectures would be cognizant of the vast difference in value between the vague knowledge one can acquire through reference materials, and the clear and consistent explanations that can be gained through conversations with an expert in the field. And if you do not understand that, then I must ask why you insist on wasting others' time with your indolence.”

“W-what do you mean, 'indolence'...?”

“Well damn. Kid's got a mouth on her...”

Things were going from bad to worse - now Karin had taken an interest. If I left this alone, it could easily easily escalate beyond my control and into an all-out brawl. She was free to pick whichever fights she wanted, but I wanted to avoid any risk of worsening my relationships with other students and ending up barred from attending.

“Come on, Karin. Cut it out. I'm not mad or anything.”

“...Hm? Wait a second, I'm sure...” Karin looked as though she'd just noticed something. The girl hurriedly pulled her hat back down over her head. My master had called this girl Haruko, hadn't she?

“I too have important matters to attend to. I really do have to hurry.”

“I...I see. Sorry about all this.” She had come all the way to this terrace searching for my master, and I wanted to show some recognition of her dedication. In that sense, we were kindred spirits. “If I'm not mistaken, you don't come to lectures very often, do you? If you wouldn't mind, I could let you borrow my old notes...”

“If you're going to mock me so, I hope you're prepared for the consequences.”

“Eh? Did...did I say something wrong?” How short was this girl's fuse? I desperately looked to Karin for help, but she only shook her head as though to say there was nothing she could do. And then, in that moment -

“I think that's quite enough, Erice.”

Another newcomer – a woman, who had not been in the classroom �� strolled towards us, calling out to me with uncomfortable familiarity. Her footsteps clacked on the floor as she approached.

“Welcome. Your arrival is earlier than I had expected.” Ms. Fujimura, who had been maintaining a position of neutrality in our argument, greeted her in an oddly forced tone of voice.

“It was your message that hurried me here, Caren. You said that I might have the opportunity to see something interesting.” She was dressed in a vintage black sailor uniform, and her long silver hair was left to hang freely. I knew this woman – this woman who looked so out-of-place in Akihabara, who clad herself in an elegant shroud of bygone days.

“Chitose... What...what are you doing here...?”

Now it made sense. Caren's urgent matter must have been her.

The girl in the hat must have caught my murmured whisper. “Chitose...? What kind of civilian could call directly on a municipal administration AI without an appointment...?”

I heard the rushing sound of an intake of breath, and she turned sharply back around to the woman once more. Now that they were standing face-to-face, her small frame meant that she had to crane her neck to look her in the eyes.

“You aren't...Manazuru Chitose, are you...? The Stigmata?”

“...I am indeed. It's been a while since I last heard that name.”

The girl let out a whimper. “How could this happen...”

Her reaction was so violent, I thought for a moment that they might have been about to duel it out on the spot. In stark contrast to her brief reverie, now she was tripping over herself to be polite. She scrambled backwards three paces, and lowered her head woodenly. Her ears were glowing bright red, and from the glimpses I could catch through her bangs her cheeks were similarly flushed.

One of her fingers brushed against the side of her hat. With a swish, it folded in on itself and collapsed into a hairband. With her face now exposed, she bowed her head once more.

“I apologise wholeheartedly for my insolence, Stigmata.”

Chitose only shook her head quietly. “You had business with Caren, did you not? I do not mind waiting a while.”

“I-it was nothing! Certainly, nothing of consequence next to your duties.” She was so stiff and anxious now, her haughty demeanour not two minutes ago seemed like a distant memory. It was actually a little adorable -  although in general, I found people's tendency to become so ill at ease in Chitose's presence rather hard to deal with.

For her part, Chitose might have been responding amiably, but that should not have been mistaken for warmth or compassion. Her gaze fell upon the boy seated at our table, and for an instant, her eyes were those of a serpent that had found its prey.

“Yes, that's the boy”, she said, as though talking to herself. “I can't even tell which class his Saint Graph is. I suppose the world is full of surprises.”

I confess - my interest was aroused, and I couldn't suppress a sadistic curiosity. What reaction would her gaze stir in him? Would he show awe? Animosity? Would he ignore her completely, as though erasing his own existence?

But instead – he smiled. A beaming smile, like a shining star. A clear window straight to his heart.

Silence reigned for a second, and then Chitose smiled back at him thinly. Next to me, I felt the girl with the hat flinch. And then, her expression relaxing into a slightly mischievous smile, she approached me, and laid a pale white fingertip on my shoulder.

“I charge you with monitoring this child, Erice.”

“Understood”, I muttered. She gave a small shrug at my disgruntled response.

It looked like our conversation was over. Once Chitose had made a clear decision, my master would abide by it. I stood up from my seat, bowed to my master, and accompanied the boy from the terrace as I'd been instructed.

“Who the hell was that?”, Karin asked breezily, once we were in the corridor. “Gave me the creeps.” Just this once, I was grateful for her laid-back demeanour.

“And what's up with you, anyway? Didn't you have something to ask Caren about? You sure you're ok just leaving like this?”

“It doesn't matter. Let's just go.”

I put the building behind me, as though I were running away from something.

[simdaisies]

57 Facts

There’s a lot of facts about me here.  

I was tagged by @phoenixfg a bit ago and I’m only now getting got around to doing it while I’m sitting on this flight to Halifax and inwardly panicking about being on a plane.

I don’t know how this meme works, or if you even had to have 57 facts. That feels like an arbitrary number.  But since we’re doing arbitrary numbers, I’m tagging the last 7 simblrs in my activity log (sorry if you’ve already been tagged) @taylors-simblr @applezingsims @simageddon, @zx-ta @simgaroop @artemisa02 @vicarious-sims  and of course anyone else who wants to do this.  

(warning: 57 facts about me  is not as described in gif)

(update: I’ve been back a week now)

So I guess fact #1 I have a fear of flying.

 I was born in the Philippines.  I was brought to Canada when I was two.

When I was a kid me, my little brother and neighbourhood friends would dissect dead frogs we’d find in the back lots.

I loved 80s music.  I’d try to record songs off the radio with a tape deck, hitting the “record” button just as the DJ was done talking

Lots of my current tastes was formed in the 90s

I got into my first major car accident when I made a bad left turn. I totalled my parent’s jeep and wrecked a few cars. No one was seriously injured. 

I wrote an entire book when I was sixteen. My friends helped me write it and I shared it only with them.  I’m still carrying that idea around ( I drew the main character again recently )

My first memory of drawing was in the blank pages at the beginning and end of Encyclopedias.  I’d draw a lot of princesses. 

There was an old TV show in the 80s I really enjoyed called “The Misfits of Science”. Basically people with super powers.  It starred a teenaged Courtney Cox. 

I love(d) comic books. 

My very amateur fan art was published in the reader submitted artwork section of Wizard magazine. I think I was about 16 at the time. We had no concept of webpages, social media and online portfolios in those days

 I had a German Shepherd mutt named Sam. After about a year, he went to go live on a farm. No really, he did.  

I went to college to learn Classical Animation 

 I worked on kids cartoons and children’s TV shows. I didn’t take my job seriously, I wish I did.

I was a goth in the 90s and in the early 2000s.  

 I now think goths are silly. Still love the aesthetic. (finished my trip, now I’m back home at this point!) 

I worked for a time as an assistant clean-up animator. Basically that meant cleaning up the assistant animator’s in-between frames.  It wasn’t inspiring work and I wasn’t great at it. 

 I worked briefly on a short film by Yoshitaka Amano (he does artwork for FF, Vampire Hunter D, among others). This was called 1001 Nights, and was shown alongside a live orchestra. I still have the poster hanging over my bed.

 The first video game I’ve ever worked on and published was Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem.  I modeled and animated. 

The second game I’ve worked on was Metal Gear Solid: Twin Snakes for the Nintendo Gamecube.  I’m a ghost photo easter egg in that game.  My name is in an IGN walkthrough. :D  

I adopted my first kitty in 1996. He was a fuzzy kitten and I named him Thaddeus. 

I moved to St. Catharines, ON for work. One of the places I lived there was a big Victorian that was divided into three apartments. Me and my partner at the time lived on the top floor (the attic). Probably the coolest place I’ve ever lived. 

When we broke up, I bought my own little house.  

I got sick with bacterial meningitis in 2004. I almost died. Was placed in a medical coma for two weeks. Woke up with lots of open skin wounds which would scar me for life. I’m okay. ^_^  This is documented on LJ here. My wonderful friend David kept my online friends in the loop.

I still have issues from being sick. I’ll have to deal with it forever I guess.

During my recovery I started playing World of Warcraft. 

My first WoW character was a human warrior, and I named her Jinzou, after my Animal Crossing character. 

I was a damn good tank. I lead raids. 

I was laid off from video game company. This was fine, I was ready for something different. 

I became a real estate agent for a bit, for many reasons. Some of that was fun, other parts of that was stressful.  I made money. 

I don’t think I have a favourite colour, but I do use a lot of purple tones in everything. Even my hair was purple for a while. I guess I like purple.  

Music tastes change from time to time, but I always love big broadway musicals. 

I saw Les Miserables over 10 times and met the Toronto cast at a point.

I’m currently listening to Come From Away.  

My favourite movie is Spirited Away 

I don’t watch a lot of animes, but I appreciate good ones. My favourite is still probably Cowboy Bebop. I’m taking reccs. 

I’m an introvert. I don’t like big social events, and it takes a lot of mental energy preparing for them, and a lot of time for me to come down from them. 

I don’t like dating.  I met my fiancé online though. 

I love my dude because he’s a big nerd and I’m comfortable with him. It’s a big deal for me. 

He proposed to me this summer. We’re engaged.  :D 

I have made no wedding plans yet, but it’s gonna be small, cheap and simple. :D  

I read Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy when I was in highschool. 

My favourite place to hang out when I was a kid was the libraries.  

I learned HTML in the 90s.

I will be 45 this year.  

My current favourite writer is Neil Gaiman. Read American Gods or Stardust.

I love horror, sci-fi, fantasy and superhero stories. Given all the time in the world, I could eat it all up. 

I’ve read the Lord of the Rings many times through out my life and once more before the movies came out. I liked the movies.

I didn’t like the Hobbit movie trilogy though. So much unnecessary filler. 

I love building worlds in the Sims. 

I have no sense of style. Jeans, t-shirt, sweater, I’m good. 

My handle “blackdaisies” is from one of my first webpages, called “Black Daisies Grow Here”... yeah that goth thing again

I’ve been playing the Sims since the first Sims City

My very first Sim was in the first Sims game. Her name was Alice Novak and she stole Bella away from Mortimer. 

my default lunch lately is yam/avocado sushi

I live in a neighbourhood in Toronto known as The Beaches. Because there’s a beach. I don’t live on the beach though.

My dream vacation would be going up to a nice cottage by a lake in the Muskokas in fall.

[inktae]

oh my god, there’s so much i’ve missed out and want to say to you. my exams (not final though, just counts for like a portion of 10% of my final grade;;) got finally over but there’s one more week of school until summer ;-; I heard that you too have a lot of stuff do as well like finals, and your paid internship (congrats~) all the best for finals (i.e. if it hasn’t happened yet or you’re in the midst of it) or I hope you did well if your finals are over. - (1/?)

it’s good that you’re taking a writing hiatus. You need rest (even though the hiatus is for your said finals and work) first of all, congratulations! FOR HITTING THAT 6,000 FOLLOWERS MARK!!!!!! Oh MY GOSH, the day you posted your first ever follow forever, was the day I was curious about how many followers you have considering the huge response your blog is getting

swear I got a bit teary eyed when I was reading it :’). I STARTED SCREAMING SILENTLY WHEN I SAW YOU MENTIONED ME omg i felt so honored that my little anonie messages made you happy. - (3/?)

Ahem ahem, how DARE YOU OFFEND ME WITH ASTRONOMER TAE;; astronomy is my passion and taehyung my love, JUST THE IDEA OF IT OFFENDS ME;; okay, first of all let me give you a standing ovation *claps cLAps* for writing such a well thought and balanced fic. Like I can’t imagine the amount of thought and time you put into creating such a great fic. That’s one of the reasons why you’re my favorite ff author of all time, like you put so much effort into making sure that the facts are right - (4/?)

and stuff I can’t really put into words but very much can appreciate (like ily in short, okay?) I loved jimin’s character in this I just don’t know why, like he had this really calming presence in this story and ahh~ squish squish everywhere. jin, oh my gosh, jin the amount of pain he had to go through from being rejected by his soulmate to having to run away from his family ;-; im not even going to talk about madscientisttae like im just ded y’all. - (5/?)

and omg now we dream apart was truly unique and wonderful. Honestly soul mate au’s are so versatile and im so in awe that you come up with a new idea turning your usual fic into something beautiful! “it is not your other half, but rather someone who reminds you that you are already whole” :’) wow that was so beautiful, like in most fics (not that im bashing them or anything) would say that your soulmate is your other half but someone who reminds that you’re already whole, idk but - (6/?)

I was so satisfied like that’s what a soulmate should be (in my pov).Im in the midst of reading below thunder shows and im loving every second of it. Sorry it got too long, the message that is. Im so so very excited for your upcoming projects like ot7; requiem of time when there;s so much potential for angst like sign me up! And OH MY LORD, KOE NO KATTACHI AU (+ fantasy aU) WITH JIMIN?! Im reading that manga and I swear its one of the most beautiful mangas - (7/?)

I have ever read in my entire life, like im in chapter 14 and I’ve cried like 4 times already ;-; im planning to watch the movie after I finish (or should I watch it then read the manga?) then, omg the sequel for blue notebooks!! summer just got bearable. Also also (sorry) don’t let the hate get to you. you don’t deserve this at all and I WILL PERSONALLY COME FROM DUBAI TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO DID such mean things and give them a wack in the head because they need it. Just forget about (8/?)

about them and focus on the positive things and the people who loves you (like me for instance xD) btw, tumblr made me wait for an hour before I could send any more messages - (8/8) n.

DUDE I SMILED SO MUCH READING THIS thank you for the asks and for taking the time to send me such a lovely, caring message ❤❤ I am still in the middle of exams and will be studying for a few more weeks still. but I made a studying schedule I’m finally comfortable with, so it’s all good! (I mean.. I am still the grumpiest I have ever been. you don’t want to see how much of an ogre I am during exams season lol). anyway, congrats on finishing your exams, even if they are only a 10%! that’s already a great accomplishment.

and thank you so much, I’m still thrilled that so many people support my works. pjiminnie was.. considerably bigger, but it took me this long to see that that doesn’t matter, as long as I’m happy with what I’m posting :)) and YES I had to mention you!! you are at the top of my mind when it comes to the most supportive followers I have ever had, so believe me when I say I’m genuinely grateful for you and your messages. 

and omg you actually read away from the sun and now we dream apart!! thank you!! can you tell I’m very, very trash for soulmate aus LOL and it’s really fun to try and come up with something new every time. it’s like a little challenge. :) 

I was going to keep the koe no katachi au strictly as a slice of life (zero magical elements) buuuut I came up with this really cool fantasy idea for it and goddamn it, I know it might sound weird to mix those two aus but I can only hope it turns out alright!! I never read the manga, I just stumbled upon the movie a while ago after seeing some gifs, and I only found out there was a manga after watching it. then again, I checked out the manga’s art afterwards and I can say that the animators did a great job with it, it looks so similar ^^

thank you for your support, I really hope you're okay and that you get to spend a great, relaxing summer! ahhh I seriously smiled so much with your messages so thank you for that hehe ❤

[mozart-and-mocha]

Major key with 1 flat

I ran into Rafaela again, this time outside a café near her school. Or rather, she ran into me. If I’m being honest, I didn’t really notice her in the crowd. But since we were in the same place, we might as well sit down for coffee.

“So, uh, what do I call you in public? It’s not like I can shout ‘F major’ outside of a musical context. I really don’t need people thinking I’m crazy,” she explained. This kid did have a point. I thought for a moment. “Okay, there’s no easy way out of this. Unlike my relative minor and her parallel major, I do not have a name that could pass for normal, by your standards.” I winked at her. “You don’t have to call me by name in public. As long as I know you’re talking to me, that should be fine.”

“Okay,” she shrugged. “Anyway, I stumbled upon this series on the internet personifying you and the 23 other keys. I listened to some of it with Dave. So how it works is that there are 24 episodes, one for each key. Each episode is about 4-5 minutes long, and it tells a story using classical music written in that key. There’s a bit of pop music too, but only in 3 episodes.”

How had I not known about this before? At least it showed that humans have been personifying us for ages. 

“Interesting.” I paused for a moment, wondering if I should ask her if she had listened to the episode describing me. Then I decided against it. I wasn’t so sure I really wanted to hear conflicting aspects of my character, which there were bound to be. “So which did you listen to?”

“Dave was the one who introduced it to me. We listened to the D minor and A major episodes together, at least that I can remember, since those were the keys that the two of us had met.” Rafaela hesitated. “Dave might have listened to other episodes on his own. And in case you’re wondering, I listened to the F major episode. At home, without Dave. I don’t think you’ve met him.”

I was curious to know how I was described in the episode about me. But first, I wanted to be sure who Dave was. “Is he the one who confessed to my relative minor?” I asked.

A look of horror crossed Rafaela’s face. “Oh no. How did you-” her voice trailed off as she understood. “Re would’ve told you, right? Dave kinda let it slip. I didn’t know he liked her until after he showed me that series!” By then, she was blushing. 

I couldn’t say I was surprised. Many people have been drawn to the key of D minor. She’s just hauntingly sad. And maybe furious at times. And possibly a reminder of gloom. Mozart’s requiem, Beethoven’s ninth symphony, Bruckner. In fact, Bruckner was apprehensive about writing his ninth symphony in D minor, the same key that Beethoven wrote his ninth in. 

“How did the episode about me describe me?” I decided to change the subject. I took a sip of my latte, bracing myself for whatever characteristics I was purported to have. I looked at Rafaela, and for a brief moment, we made eye contact, before she looked away and lifted her own cup to her lips.

“You are beautiful,” she began. “Really attractive, but you don’t know it. And you walk barefoot on the grass, with sunlight grazing your shoulders. Also, you have some sadness in you.”

I was not sure the part describing my physical appearance was entirely accurate. I don’t think I’m unattractive, it’s that I don’t particularly think I’m outstanding in the looks department. If you asked me, I’d say that A major was easily one of the better looking ones. I suppose it was somewhat true, I enjoyed walking in the sun. But I usually wore a T-shirt, not one of those things that exposed the shoulders. I don’t even know what they’re called. And sadness? I had always known I wasn’t the happiest of major keys, but I didn’t know to what extent the sadness in me showed through.

“According to the episode, you had a rough childhood, but you overcame the past. And, I quote, ‘now she stands tall���. So maybe you’re good at moving on. Also, it says that you’re a mom.”

“Excuse me?” I hiccuped. “What do you mean, I’m a mother?” What I did not mention is that I’ve been called a tomboy, made fun of, and shoved into the mud many times, for not being feminine enough. I was too much of a boy. If the people I had encountered in the past had heard this, they would be roaring in laughter. My past hadn’t exactly been a bed of roses. I've even been told to stay single to spare anyone the thought of being with me, much less be a mother. They said I was too messed up to be a mum. While the prospect of being childless did not bother me, something else about that comment did.

“There was something about you cradling your baby and your heart swelling with gratitude,” Rafaela said. “Look, I’m not the one who came up with these characteristics. And that reminds me, you seem like the kind of person who gets impatient at times, but you have a good heart. Teasing your loved ones, throwing dinner parties. And you were characterised as someone who would never leave me.”

“That last bit seems way more accurate than the bit about me being a mother,” I grumbled. “You got me there, I do enjoy a good dinner party. And hanging out with my friends. But being a mum? Really?” I couldn’t keep the incredibility out of my voice. I glanced at Rafaela, who had a weird expression on her face. “That’s like calling Dr James Barry a woman, when he clearly wasn’t one."

“Is there something you’re not telling me?” she demanded. “Also, who is Dr James Barry?”

“Hey now, that’s personal,” I said as lightly as I could. “And go google him. I don’t want to reveal everything about myself based on what you think I know.”

“I was discussing this whole synesthesia thing with a friend who isn’t Dave, and she agreed that if F major were a guy, he wouldn’t be very macho.” Rafaela changed the subject, without really changing it. “You just seem like the sort of guy who has no time for toxic masculinity.”

"Is that what I look like to you?” Inside, however, I was beaming.

Rafaela finished the last of her drink. “What do other people think of you?” she replied. “Maybe that’s your answer.”

Later that day, when the sun was about to set, I stopped by to check in on my relative minor. I didn’t really worry about my parallel minor, because I knew F minor was usually engaged in some sports event. But the sad key of D minor? That was a different story.

When I walked in, I saw D major sitting at the dining table, marking papers. “If not for the past few centuries in which I know my relative minor, I would’ve thought I’m in the wrong place,” I quipped.

D major nodded towards the master bedroom. “She’s in there,” she said noncommittally. “How was your day?”

“It was okay, I guess. Had a talk with that kid, Rafaela,” I answered. D major looked at me. “That kid is in my math class,” she said.

“I feel like I should be surprised, but honestly, I’m not,” I laughed. “Looks like C major is doing a superb job, assigning groups of us to the same place.” “Yeah, I guess so,” came the reply, as I walked into the master bedroom.

D minor was lying on the bed, reading, with her phone beside her. “Hey. How are you feeling?” I enquired. “Wanna grab some dinner?”

She sat up and swung her legs to the side of the bed. “Feel like I could sleep any moment,” she complained. "Do I even want to get up again when I know the world would be better off without me, seeing how everyone has turned against me all these years?" I bent down, and she took my hand. I pulled her to her feet and turned to leave the room.

“Rafaela seems horrified that her friend Dave has taken a liking to you.” I tried to keep the atmosphere casual.

“Oh, so that’s his name. The guy who confessed to me while I was looking at scores in the library some time ago.” 

“I hope you weren’t too creeped out,” I said, now in the living room. She followed me, seemingly hesitant. D major was packing up the last of the papers she had to mark. “Teachers need a weekend, too,” she groaned as she walked out the door.

“So much for living a normal life,” D minor muttered beside me. 

“I don’t think depression is normal, either. Sure, it may be common, but it’s something you shouldn’t have to suffer through. There’s a difference between what’s common and what’s normal, and I remember learning that in a psychology class.” I glanced at her as she sank down on a couch. Her face was blank, and I admired her dark eyes, which were gazing into the distance. I sat down next to her. F major and D minor, was this a representation of how we modulated into one another in many pieces with either of us as the home key?

“A rope ends it is an anagram of desperation, and whoever came up with it is very relatable,” she said, her head resting on my shoulder as I stared at the TV.

I reached for her hand, and as I did so, I was suddenly aware of her breathing. “You okay?”

“Do you even know what it’s like, living like this?” she sighed. “At least you swung by tonight.” By then, it had started pouring. Rain was hammering on the roof and windows. I imagined the Raindrop Prelude playing in the background. A random thought of D-flat major flashed through my mind. I hadn’t seen D-flat major in a while, and I hoped she was doing okay. A thud jolted me out of my thoughts. D minor had fallen asleep, and the TV remote hit the floor. 

I lifted her from the couch and carried her to bed. Wow, I’m getting stronger, I thought. F minor would be proud. When I set her down on her bed, D minor woke up and looked at me, through the darkness and the pain I knew she was going through. I knew, because I had experienced it myself, and seen that same darkness in her eyes. A pain that most major keys would not ever experience. “Is something bothering you?” I asked. “Like this whole, atonality war, government cracking down on the arts, us needing synaesthetic musicians, thing?”

My relative minor shrugged. “Probably.” She looked away from me. 

“We’ll talk about this in the morning,” I decided. “Now get some sleep.” 

Even as the two of us drifted off, I knew that there was a bigger issue that had not been explicitly mentioned. It wasn’t about her, or whatever it was that she wasn’t telling me. I hated admitting it, but there was something I felt she deserved to know.

[geek-gem]

It 2017

8:21 pm okay had to click in the description thing three times. Yet also I wanted to put the time because been at home for a while.

But I'll get to this. Yes I've seen the film I saw it with my Nana, brother, and his friend who's a very close neighbor of ours on our street.

I'll just get to it I liked it quite a bit or a lot. Basically I enjoyed it. Will say it did frightened me quite a bit.

But I'll put that there and I wanna say some stuff first. I'm gonna say okay I missed OK KO and I noticed when we got back in my Nana's car it was 7:01 pm meaning I missed the second showing. Felt disappointed or sad. Honestly hoping tomorrow or some time this week that new episode is showcased. Including I don't usually record shows because to...keep my interests hidden at times.

Yet seeing this film honestly quite a good time. I'm gonna speak a bit about well not just the film yet other stuff. I've never seen the original mini series but I've seen Nostalgia Critic's review of it. Despite I'm not the biggest fan of his anymore and that was years ago. Also I was surprised it was a mini series also Canadian because Canadians make some good shit. Despite yeah I know it's based upon this novel.

Including last night was seeing a bit of clips from the original where Tim Curry is playing Pennywise seriously lovely actor this is Nigel Thornberry and other characters.

Also I haven't had the most exposure to the character of Pennywise but mainly if you don't mind me calling you friend @bakhtaks-blog who's a horror fan and likes Pennywise but honestly over the years the character and story has been around for quite a long time.

I don't wanna sound stupid yet I'm seriously surprised by the amount of interest this film had. I'm worried I'm sounding a bit hypocritical but it's maybe because I think horror fans don't get much interest because well their horror films almost left fans. So I'm honestly sounding stupid but it amazes me how much this film generated interest in the public.

It's probably because of some reasons. Including just... really it's in a way not a remake or reboot. But a official movie adaptation or part 1 since it's not the whole book. I kind of feel Pennywise being part of pop culture I'm sorry I'm just surprised by so many people wanting to see this. Because to me I hardly see people get excited for anything horror related or that's just me.

Yet I was interested despite.....I keep having this mindset of horror related remakes reboots being considered the worst of the worst and seeing many. I was surprised at first people being excited for it. Yet I'm sounding stupid their must be a whole lot of other reasons that would make sense. Also advertising that's a big thing that generates interest at times.

Also I saw Jeremy Jahns review on Wednesday and I enjoy his content one of my favorite reviewers. I was surprised and seeing the Rotten Tomatos score last time I saw was a 90 percent. While I make my own opinions I was surprised by that.

Along with reading mainly found this in a comment that the director read the book five times I guess to get this film right. Yesterday on Rotten Tomatos I said that's dedication because that amazes me. Including the effort put into the film I'm just wow. Also the comment months ago that Stephen King himself said the movie was good.

Anyway I'm sorry I got off topic I'll start talking about the movie I honestly liked it. Including just seems like a stupid critical thing of me it starts kind of slow yet just really as the movie goes on it gets really good.

I'm gonna say this as well I honestly liked the characters mainly well the Loser's Club where it's these kids. Really all the kids act very well. Including at times their were moments that were really funny that eases off the stress of some parts. In fact including Jeremy Jahns mentioned this and the Rotten Tomatos score this film has quite some heart. Which I don't wanna sound stupid I kind of rarely see in horror related stuff basically movies. Theirs some character development and some sad moments that make you honestly care about what's going on.

I was quite interested on what's going on and the finale seriously the way it goes down I saw people actually clapping in my theater when this finale was going down. Because if seriously felt very full filling and seeing these characters after all the shit they've gone through you feel like your very happy.

That's something I now talked about now let's talked about Pennywise seriously the actor who plays him does such a good job. I feel his performance as the character I felt this fear and just the way he acted and moved. I thought it was very well done.

Including I'm gonna say seriously even my brother honestly he was just...meh to me he was bothersome yet going to this movie was his idea and before that me and my Nana talked about it possibly. Seriously ether it's just me not seeing horror movies in some time at times. Also new ones I'm kind of a pussy. Just like with Annabelle Creation I seriously had my right hand up at times. Including my brothers saying who's 5 years younger then me that it's okay or something. Including before seeing this movie he said he doesn't like scary movies and... I remembered I guess it was cause of a friend he said who read it and I guess he wanted to see it.

Yet really at times I felt frightened. But yeah their are certain jump scares and this is my first time seeing the film. But their are at times mainly it's with the characters I'm worried of just what's gonna pop up. I seem to sound stupid. But I wanted to talk about that.

In fact adding to that and well the film is quite brutal. In fact adding to this you actually see well in a way children dying on screen or facing certain stuff. Basically the film isn't holding back. Honestly from what I can think it wouldn't be the first film to do this. One film I can count is Aliens Vs Predator 2 Requiem yet let's just say well I hate that film very fucking much because of how fucking horrible it is.

But really also other horror films yet.... really teenagers are still considered children. Yet the way it's handled where it adds to it being disturbing and makes you feel uncomfortable. Because basically just seeing certain images and just the film doesn't hold back. Or that's just me it might yet okay maybe it didn't went all out all I don't know. I'm saying that because I feel someone might have a different opinion then me. Yet seriously it's brutal.

Also I kind of question well I'm a fan of a franchise FNAF where the lore includes murdered children.

Honestly just a lot of the film was good. Also the score and just...I liked it quite a bit. Including before that well mainly yesterday I read a comment and saw a thumbnail I thought I might of been spoiled. Yet I feel the ending wasn't spoiled for me because it was another scene.

Including will say along with the brutal quite gruesome I don't wanna sound stupid yet I'm warning you if you wanna see it beware of that. Their are certain scenes that might disturb you. Yet that's kind of the point of a horror film. Almost put yet again but I'm surprised just seriously the heart and develop

Well was kind of scared when honestly my bros friend and my bro just came into my room. Just his friend also he's my friend as well opened the door slowly. They were just looking yeah long ago my bro used my room to film something. Then they left I closed the door I'm getting off topic.

Really I enjoyed the film a lot. Including gonna spoil well it is the ending but also it happens before the credits start. So be warned but it's nothing huge yet just saying it's basically before the credits just informing audiences.

Before I saw the movie like the past few or two days or yeah few days. I found out this is the first part in a duoilgy of movies. With this film focusing on the view point of the characters as children. With the 2nd I'm gonna expect yeah it being focused on them as adults.

Including this made me think and reading from a comment that the book is huge even told my Nana after the movie. Also it made me think of Stephen King liking the film and it's not a simple remake reboot or...it's something else it some what is a remake reboot whatever but a more faithful to the source material and a lot of people seem to be happy.

If the book is that huge it's great the director and everyone else decided to do that. Including it helps out with the development of characters.

When the film ended it shows the title and then shows the words in front of the title chapter one. Then a guy that was some what in front of us to the right on some seats down said oh shit or something like that yeah he said oh shit. Not loudly but a simple oh shit it was silly and it seemed to be those words.

Also I remember now what I was gonna say in a interview I haven't seen the interview yet. But the actors I saw these words on Rotten Tomatos decided to choose actors for their older selves. Seems like something funny. I'm guessing maybe they might said some outrageous casting choices lol.

Other then that I had a good time almost left the word food ha. Really it's been quite a long time while I enjoyed Annabelle Creation and really interested in the Conjuring franchise. Seeing this film just it reminded me of other certain horror films that are considered masterpieces in some sorts. Basically ones that are very good.

Because I was seriously surprised by how well done it was because no offense probably because of certain films I watch I'm so used to some regular bullshit. Not all of them are bad. Yet really just....I think I shouldn't compare some slasher films to this. Yet the Universal Monsters films their originals seem amazing haven't watched them all yet. Remember seeing much of the original Frankenstein in high school but never finished the film.

Also slasher film their was a new Leatherface trailer before the film looks quite nice. Yet... probably because no offense my interest in slasher films including ones starting my favorite characters from films I generally liked it. Yet it could be good or enjoyable like actually good because this year has been quite good with horror films. Unless I've missed something.

So let me say this when I got home said hi to family a bit said the film was good or just I liked it a lot I think the 2nd part is more likely oh stomach, said it frightened me and agreed it was scary. Took a shower, and just was hanging out with family my cousin T and his girlfriend and their baby girl were here. I didn't wanna be awkward and not be around. Which is why I didn't make this sooner. The baby girl spit or yeah throw up on my mom behind her back before I could ask if I could hold her again. Including my mom was closing the blinds. Luckly it was all cleaned up. Then to hold the baby was nervous and she touched my beard....I was surprised. Yet was nervous and even said I thought I was strangling her but wasn't including my cousin T telling me how to hold her in some ways.

Also went through two shirts just...also washed my beard and...don't like my shirts being touched by people ha.

I think that's mostly all ha. Was thinking just ha almost left must but forget the tag just...ticks. Now almost left get just....I enjoyed the film and wanted to tell you. That's my reaction review shit ha must chill just ticks ha 9:19 edit 9:20 just mtv 1 on just and remote won't work again g just...oh dare to live is on just ticks ha