(no subject)

[castrationfist]

Who: Everyone
Broadcast: N/A
Action: Iskaulit
When:

[So we've been stuck on the poison moon for a couple months now, so a lot of people probably want to get away from that.

Unfortunately, the only place you really can get away from it besides your own ship is the Iskaulit. So, here's a June Iskaulit mingle!]

Comments

Caster | OTA

[castrationfist]

[The fox park]

[Where better for a fox girl to be? She's just standing around in the enclosure, looking around. And if anyone's brought their foxes over, they might just suddenly run over to approach her, and... well, it sure looks like they're talking to her.

Weird, right?]

[Interfaith Center]

[So a goddess walks into an interfaith center, and the whole thing catches fire.

Okay, no, not really. But Caster is standing near the entrance, peering in like she's afraid it really will burst into flames if she enters. She has a rather displeased expression on her face, as well.]

"Interfaith"... So those Western gods allow for this sort of thing now? Well, better late than never, I suppose.

[Though as she talks, an ornate round mirror starts floating around her, spinning in circles.]

[Library]

[She can also be found in the library... Sort of. There's an unattended pile of books, with one open. Except periodically, with a shower of golden sparkles, Caster appears out of thin air, turns the page, and then vanishes into nothing again. Needless to say, this is probably strange to watch.]

[Wildcard/Catch all]

[Caster is also just going to be exploring to get used to the ship. So, if you have reason to stop a weird-looking fox-girl on platform sandals, then she can be found pretty much anywhere, poking her head into places without a care, occasionally dematerializing to just walk through a wall to see what's on the other side.]

Interfaith

[pneumo]

[ It's okay, now there's a Sheol who thinks he's a vampire inside the chapel too! They can burn together, even if at the moment Sascha is more interested in why this pink-haired lady (so so coooool) has a mirror floating around her and yes, he does show up in it ]

....Whoa! Neat!

[castrationfist]

[As soon as she notices Sascha, though, she gives off a terrified squeak. Is this... Not a vampire, he doesn't seem like Vlad. Not a Dead Apostle, if he's in public. Not a True Ancestor, he's not nearly powerful enough for that. So...

Tamamo tries to keep her appearance calm, but her tail is definitely puffed out in surprise and alarm.]

Hmm, do you have interest in my mirror?

[pneumo]

[ He doesn't mean to be an endless void of hunger!! ): and if he knew that he was he'd apologize. For now though his attention goes from the mirror to the super fluffy tail in zero seconds flat, eyes wide and bright behind his shades. ]

--You have a tail! [ Forget the mirror, TAIL. ]

[castrationfist]

Yes? You have arms, does this really need to be said?

[pneumo]

But like...! It's super-fluffy! [ He wants to touch it... ]

How come you have a tail???

[castrationfist]

Well, I could just as easily ask why you don't have one!

[She's pulled her tail around herself to hold it protectively in her arms.]

[pneumo]

Well...'cause humans don't have tails! [ and enassumes he was one at one point, so...!! ]

[castrationfist]

And if you think about it, doesn't that answer your question?

[pneumo]

...... [ GASP. ]

Are you an alien??

[castrationfist]

You're a rude one, aren't you? Did no one ever teach you not to pry? Shouldn't you introduce yourself before interrogating a cute girl you've only just met?

[pneumo]

Oh...sorry! I didn't know I was supposed to. [ No one taught him now to gentleman :c ] I'm Sascha! It's nice to meet you~ I really like your tail!

[castrationfist]

Well, my tail is quite adorable, but don't think flattery will get you anywhere.

[She's pouting.]

... I am called Caster.

wildcard!

[brainiest]

[ After their conversation, Hermione had spent a lot of time thinking. She sat and thought about her reasons for becoming Diarmuid's Master, why she had chosen to be his Partner and why she had offered herself - to give him strength, to give him company, someone to lean on and someone to take care of him - and she thought about the reasons why she might become Caster's... And she knew what the choice would be, without really spending too long on careful consideration. She knew that if he was here Diarmuid would be just as supportive of her making the choice as he had been of everything she had done in the Drabwurld, and that made it easier.

(She decided not to consider what Gilgamesh might think about it, about her choosing a Servant that wasn't him or his chosen Knight).

She's not entirely sure where to find Caster, but she thinks it better to go and see her in person than it is to try and do this type of discussion over the devices. She tries her ship, first, but then afterwards she goes and visits the Iskaulit, the only other place other than the moon that the Servant might be and - sure enough - there she is, as if waiting for Hermione. Hesitating for a moment, gripping the ring Gilgamesh gave her around her neck with the hand scarred with Command Spells, she walks forward. ]

Caster?

[castrationfist]

Hermione!

[Caster bounces up on her toes to give a cheerful wave. (How she can manage to balance like that on three-inch platform sandals is perhaps a mystery best left for another time.)

But, all things considered... She's not entirely sure why Hermione's approaching. They're friends, of course. Maybe she just wanted to say hi? After all, taking a Servant is important, and something that requires careful thought. Would Hermione really have come up with her answer that quickly? (Probably, if her instincts are right, watching how she grips that ring. But if she's wrong, pushing the matter won't help anyone.]

Oh, my, you came all this way just to see me? Ah, I'm so happy~!

[brainiest]

Caster -

[ All Hermione can do is smile, fighting her laugh, and she knows she's made the right choice. This isn't a Servant that's going to leave her feeling uncomfortable or out of place like Saber did, nor someone that she thinks she won't get along with. This is a Servant that needs someone for mana, for energy, and Hermione can give it to her, be a friend and a Partner and everything between the two extremes because she can see the happiness in the way the other woman greets her, the way that she bounces and smiles, and it's enough.

When she goes back to the Drabwurld things will be different, she knows that, but for now - she can give Caster this, and she can find someone she can trust, someone she can rely on, and she believes in that. She understands what it means to be a Master, after all - how many other people on the fleet might have that kind of empathy? ]

Of course I came to see you. I wanted to tell you that... That if you still wanted me I'd be your Master.

[castrationfist]

Eh-

[The gasp of surprise escapes her almost before she notices. She had been aware, of course, that that was what seemed likely, but to know it's likely and to hear it happen are two different things. (And, after the life of Tamamo-no-Mae, she couldn't help but be wary- Even when things seem to be at their best, the chance is always there for humans to decide she is simply not worth it.

She recovers quickly enough, ears standing straight up, and tail pointed up after them.]

I'm happy to hear that, but... Are you sure? This is a really big deal, after all, and you can't take it back later if you change your mind!

[brainiest]

I'm sure.

[ She shifts, standing up a little taller, determined and not tearing her gaze away with her own nerves. ]

The reason I became a Master in the Drabwurld was because a friend needed me. He needed someone to take care of him, just like I needed someone to take care of me, and I was happy to do that for him. He might not have needed the mana that I could give him, but it was nice for us both to have someone to lean on, to reach out for when we were afraid or uncertain. That's why I was happy to be his Master, because I knew that we would be good to each other.

[ Hand falling away from Gilgamesh's ring, Hermione touches the marks on her hand absently. ]

I want to be your Master because I can help you, and because I know that you need it, but more importantly? I know that we could be good friends, too, and - and I don't want you to suffer being stuck to someone who doesn't understand what it means to have a Servant, what it means to have them with you and to take care of them.

1/2

[castrationfist]

[Well. With a speech like that, Caster can only sit in stunned silence, a slow blush creeping through her features, ending up spreading all the way back to the tips of her human ears. And possibly her fox ears, too, but who can tell for sure there?

Even after Hermione finishes, there's a pause as Caster tries to compose herself...]

[castrationfist]

[And then she remembers, oh right, she's Caster. Who needs composure?

She jumps for joy, and then straight-up throws herself at Hermione to hug her, her tail wagging about behind her excitedly.]

Ahh, I knew I was making the right choice! You're my savior, Master!

[brainiest]

[ Hermione squeaks a noise, almost tumbling back before her arms reach up to wrap around Caster, huffing out a little noise before she smiles and adjusts her weight so she can hold the other woman properly. Her embrace is gentle, and her hand rests on the arch of Caster's spine before she fights her little laugh. ]

I don't know if I'd go as far as to say saviour, but...

[ Leaning back, she looks at Caster with a smile. ]

And you don't have to call me Master, even when the contract is done. Just Hermione is fine.

[castrationfist]

[As Hermione catches her, the one thing she might notice is that Caster is actually really light. Her clothes, her ribbon in her hair, even the way she holds her ears and tail, are all carefully designed to make her appear much bigger than she is, but once they're in close contact like that, it's much easier to tell just how small and light, and honestly fragile-looking she seems.

(And not just looking- She is incredibly fragile... for a Servant. Which is still infinitely beyond any human.)]

Nonsense! I was nearing my limit, you know? You really are saving me!

Hm... If you don't like Master, then what about 'Husband'? Ah, I said it! ♥

[brainiest]

[ It just confirms to her the knowledge that she made the right choice, letting herself hold onto Caster and not worry about what might happen other than this; sharing something and helping someone she thinks she might really, really enjoy getting to know be safer and stronger. Relaxing, she tilts her head and watches her for a moment before she fights her smile, shaking her head and reaching to find Caster's hand for a moment, squeezing gently. ]

That doesn't make me a saviour just yet, not really.

[ Modesty comes easy to her and it's not false at all; it's just something that comes without her pausing to think. Caster's next words do make her stop, though, and heat floods her cheeks before she coughs. ]

I - I don't think husband quite fits either. Just - name?

[castrationfist]

[She can't stop herself from giggling at that reaction- Not that she's making any effort to, either.]

Hehee, what a cute reaction! I'm looking forward to our partnership ♥

[She does become a bit more subdued, though there is a faint smile playing at her lips as she considers.]

Ah, yes, that's right... Names. That is something important...

[brainiest]

[ Hermione shakes her head, cheeks still a little pink. ]

Honestly...

[ But at least she's smiling and, stepping forward, she reaches out to take Caster's hand in her own. ]

I know your real name is important to you and it's important to the contract, too. If you want I can use a spell so I can't hear your true name when you say it?