Eggterparty

[hyruglyphics]

[ So like, that was all something, right? A confrontation with the souls of the damned, and then a battle with a former gym leader, and finally, a meeting with a god. Even as they plan to leave, the sky is dark with storm clouds. The day seems to conspire to create barriers for the group. But even so, to many it may seem as if the evening is a hopeful one.

One of the lake guardians has been restored and the group has completed - after a month - the initial task that Cynthia gave them. They found one of the gym leaders, and learned there were those who fought for this world (even if they did lose) and still can be broken free from the control. All in all, it's mixed, but the mood isn't necessarily unpleasant, despite the rolls of thunder overhead.

However, said rain and thunder does mean it ends up seeming more sound to camp here in the cave. It's not necessarily comfortable, but there are those those who can pitch a tent or two and others who can make fires. Some people might have food provisions, or are able to make more for the group with their existing supplies or forage.

Though that said, the most remarkable thing of the night is obviously going to be that strange pulse of ... something which comes over everyone. And then, of course, the sounds of these eggs hatching . . . ]

Comments

[heritrix]

I see. By not having to worry about the strain of providing mana for a Servant, you could fight at full capacity.

[At least that finally teases something out of Rin, as she makes a face. Y'all are fucking cheaters. Between the Fourth and the Fifth Grail Wars, she and Shirou and obviously her father who would never do such a thing were the only Masters with a sense of propriety.]

Begrudgingly I'll admit that's clever, even if it says something unsavory about you. Did your companion return with you to London when you left, or did they to finish out the war?

[enjoymyatelier]

[he kind of smirks at that expression there...]

Oh, come now. If someone is clever enough to discover a magical loophole that lets them employ a particular strategy, they deserve to use it, don’t they? Think of it as a free hint for whenever you end up needing to deal with the Holy Grail in the future instead of being jealous you didn’t figure it out first.

[he waves it off a bit.]

...but anyway, she did come back with me, yes. I’d say even if she’s very competent, she’s not much of a combatant given that she didn’t inherit her family’s crest.

...

Naturally, she returned to London with me in my timeline. But I didn’t ask what happened to her in the timeline where I died.

[There’s an inflection to his voice that suggests the reason he didn’t ask was because he was afraid of what he’d find out.]

[heritrix]

[Geez, not if that doesn't make her recall more of Archer's memories. Clearer ones, even, from the time he still had slivers of hope and a dream.]

What you do doesn't bother me.

[She draws her legs up, and loops her hands around her knees.]

You aren't the first person I've met who took lives, or had to as a key part of their job description. And if these days you do it to look after kids, that's a good cause.

[She pauses for a moment, lacing her fingers together, then pulling them undone.]

Someone I care about a lot believes that every person deserves a chance to be saved. I've decided to support him, though between you and me, I can't completely share that point of view.

It's easy when it's someone innocent, like the children you're looking out for. That's something I can get behind. But it's harder to justify helping others.

[eudaimonikos]

It’s - a moral opposition.

[He lays a hand over his chest and grins like someone for whom morally opposing anything is still a delightful novelty.]

Gotta be honest, it’s really only been for the past few months. Bit of a long story, I’m not sure I really realized until I got promoted. Could be overseeing the widespread adoption of my new torture methods right now, I’d be like an even more evil Thomas Edison.

[anythingforyou]

Hmhm. Where would we be without a sweet ball of sunshine like yourself amongst us?

[It's enough to make Camilla try to ruffle his hair, if he'll allow it.]

It's worked well for us thus far. If it sees us through to the end...perhaps we could help everyone, even those who are so tightly woven in Cyrus's coil. Wouldn't that be wonderful...

[bloodspent]

Like Saturn, I'm assuming.

[He's got his own thoughts on that; it's just kind of weird to put them into proper words.]

I'm not going to say that anyone deserves anything, because I've got someone I'm trying really hard to not turn out like. Someone who's...important to me, I guess. He was pretty big on what people deserved and what they didn't, and I don't want to be like that, especially since I know what it did to him in the end.

But I don't think most people are beyond help. Fuck knows I wasn't, even when I thought I was. But the way Saturn is now, there's no saving him if he doesn't want it. He's going to have to come around on his own. If he does, great. If not, he'll be dealt with.

I don't know about Cyrus, though. We might have to let your friend down on that one.

[takestheblame]

[That sounds like a terrifying thing. It's a really good thing you're not being as awful as you could be, man]

...good enough. Can't say it's on the same level, but I do understand how it's like not being as bad as you could be.

[Not Kiryu himself, but he has seen it happen]

Even if it has been a few months you should get some reward for it, although I guess it'd be from humans instead of other demons.

[There must be something a demon wants humans can get him somehow, right?]

[anythingforyou]

I'm certain that you'll find something in due time. Something tells me that they may be a touch more prepared for such fiercely playful dears, if they had been this close before...it may simply take some looking.

[That does get Camilla to open her new partner's mouth a bit and...holy shit, these are some chompers, aren't they.]

...Oh, they definitely will. I'll need something that can hold up to stress...

[Hmm.]

Why don't we go shopping together, once we're in the city? Two heads are usually better than one, when it comes to shopping; that way, if one of us finds something, we'll both be prepared to give our darlings a nice, durable toy.

[anythingforyou]

She's my other retainer, alongside Beruka. She joined the army not too long ago...I was taken by the strength she exhibited, and decided to keep her for myself.

[at least this one didn't try to kill her???]

[anythingforyou]

That is a tricky question. I need to find out if they're a boy or a girl, first...but if they're a girl, I would have loved to put some sort of bow on their head. It would look truly darling, if there were a way to put one on...

[anythingforyou]

Don't lose hope, sweetie. I'm sure that they'll open up to you in due time; they must at least know of how sweet and earnest you are toward them. Once they can register it, of course.

[eudaimonikos]

Oh, well. My human friends actually named me an honorary human!

[He’s like, visibly extremely proud of this.]

They made me a little human starter kit and everything, it was so nice of them! I had some band-aids, and a set of car keys I could lose - [He pats his various pockets] - which I have lost now, I’m very good at this.

[anythingforyou]

[As Camilla listens, that's...wow. That sounds soul crushing, honestly; to be born with such high expectations and to simply be unable to do so, when that was all she worked toward...

...Camilla finds one of her hands going through a portion of Zelda's hair, idly, if she'll allow it, and running her fingers through it in what's attempting to be a comforting motion.]

...I can only imagine how crushing that must have felt. To work towards something for your life, only for it to all be for naught...

[She can't help but feel sorry for her.]

[thunderwolf]

[...man, even if their newly hatched friends weren't so listless, he'd still find Camilla's actions to be pretty daring. Just reaching in and opening that Tyrunt's mouth, dang.

As for the suggestions to go on a joint shopping trip:]

No objections here. We'll have double the stress testers. [...he's not gonna be surprised if some toys end up destroyed even with careful picking.] D'you still have a decent amount of money for spending on toys?

[hyruglyphics]

[ Crushing. Yes, that's honestly a good way to put it. Her voice goes quiet, and she ... ]

It haunted me every moment. [ . . . ] I wished for nothing more than to be of help to my people. But I... [ . . . ] I suppose, in the end, I was able to fulfill my role, and those memories are now mine to bear.

[ Zelda that doesn't explain anything? But all the same, she did jump a little at the affectionate motion but she accepts it, smiling softly to herself. It really did remind her of Urbosa...

Her eyes feel hot. Maybe she did want to cry? ]

It maybe simply be the contrast eating at me.

[hyruglyphics]

[ she makes a noise of agreement there. She's trying hard not to think of that one conversation with Link but if she can push past it... yeah. it's nice. She wishes she could smell the grass and foliage more, but this is ... it's nice. ]

[thunderwolf]

[...!]

Very smart.

[He sure walked right into that one.]

[hyruglyphics]

[ And just after she said she didn't have the touch! Either way, Zelda smiles a little more and tilts her head down. ]

I'm looking forward to it.

[ The results! ]

[thunderwolf]

[...yikes.]

Most likely, now that we have confirmation that it works that way with Pokemon. It's not a comforting thought.

[thunderwolf]

[IT SURE IS...]

Possibly. A wide-spread, lasting effect. [Eustace's frown deepens a little, as his thoughts are going to a place he isn't sure he likes.] Where I'm from, beings called primal beasts are capable of having such an effect on entire islands. Everything we've learned about Azelf...reminds me of a primal beast.

[It doesn't surprise him that Team Galactic would try to get a hold of it and the other guardians.]

[thunderwolf]

Mm.

[He's content that Zelda's acknowledging it.

While Zelda finishes up with her hair, Rose watches her work on the braid. Eustace doesn't need her for the finishing touches of his tent, anyway. When he's finished, he turns back and peers down at the Mimikyu.]

What, interested in her hair? It's pretty different from mine, huh?

[The most Rose has seen her Trainer do with his hair is run a comb and a touch of gel through it, so. Yeah, pretty dang different.]

[enjoymyatelier]

I wonder if it'd work with the Commanders.

...

Probably not. I'm not going to chance it with them.

[semistableman]

[He laughs.]

It's the safest bet.

[hyruglyphics]

Oh... would you like a better look?

[ . . . Are those its eyes? She's not sure if those are Rose's eyes, they look like they're part of like a bag? But she does pause in her braiding to lean in a little, smiling. ]

[takestheblame]

You need lose your keys three more times more to stop being a novice at being human.

[Congrats on the starter kit! Kiryu lightens up a lot when Michael seems proud of this]

There's also getting drunk, and getting involved in strange situations by accident. Those are more advanced objectives.

[Things Kiryu knows very well, he'd add]