[ They both know it's not so simple. Even if Gray has Add back, and even if he knows she could probably wipe the floor with him eight different ways, he still can't help thinking she's always at risk of dying against. Not that he's worried for her or anything. (He is.) But it just hadn't felt right, thinking that Gray was vulnerable, and he doesn't want it to happen again. Ever.
A sentiment that comes across maybe just the slightest in the way he thumps her back once more before quickly pulling his hand away to grab up the basket instead. ]
Mm. I'll drop the basket off when I'm done.
[ It's his way of saying thanks. (???) Also, it's probably only going to take him a few days at most to demolish all these pies. Disgusting. ]
Later, then.
[ And with that unceremonious farewell, he's off. At least Gray can rest easy knowing she'll be keeping him well-fed for a while. ]
A sentiment that comes across maybe just the slightest in the way he thumps her back once more before quickly pulling his hand away to grab up the basket instead. ]
Mm. I'll drop the basket off when I'm done.
[ It's his way of saying thanks. (???) Also, it's probably only going to take him a few days at most to demolish all these pies. Disgusting. ]
Later, then.
[ And with that unceremonious farewell, he's off. At least Gray can rest easy knowing she'll be keeping him well-fed for a while. ]
[ Help, this would have been so much easier if Dokja had asked about food preferences from D. But like... what's something that is universally liked? What soup can't possibly be hated? ]
Chicken noodle soup.
[ You know. For sick people. ]
Chicken noodle soup.
[ You know. For sick people. ]
He's weird.
[She'll leave it at that as she tears another piece of bread to soak in the stew broth. It's warm, rich, and salty. The potatoes and carrots are soft. The meat is tender. It's good enough that even miss "I have to watch my figure" Tohsaka gets up for a bowl of seconds.]
[She'll leave it at that as she tears another piece of bread to soak in the stew broth. It's warm, rich, and salty. The potatoes and carrots are soft. The meat is tender. It's good enough that even miss "I have to watch my figure" Tohsaka gets up for a bowl of seconds.]
[ Scratches his cheek as he thinks about this... ]
... He's a skinny guy, so I don't think he'll need too much.
[ Or does that mean they have to feed him more?? ]
... He's a skinny guy, so I don't think he'll need too much.
[ Or does that mean they have to feed him more?? ]
[ There are flashes before the memory settles. Glimpses of a coronation, a crown placed upon a helmeted head, followed by weeks of celebration and feasting. Later, of a false king on a stolen throne, eternally clad in armour, giving orders to their court. Then, finally, to a prison in all but name, a broken woman left to ruminate over her sins alone, until an unwelcome intrusion breaks the silence. Though the halls of Camelot shine just as bright for their new king, the same can't be said for its former queen.
"A proposal, Guinevere." Gloved fingers reach out to cup a pale, trembling chin, and Mordred seems more amused than offended when Guinevere immediately jerks away from her touch. "Unlike Arthur, I am nothing if not merciful. Even a traitorous harlot has a place at my side. Become my queen, and be free of this persecution."
Refusing to be cowed by the obvious threat, Guinevere offers only a defiant glare in response.
"What is this nonsense you speak of?"
Mordred pauses, as if she might strike the other woman down for her impudence. Then, laughing, she removes her helmet.
"As much nonsense as your games of playing husband and wife."
Seeing her husband's face staring back at her, Guinevere's expression freezes halfway between fear and despair, hatred morphing into realization, then horror — all while Mordred openly gloats over her stunned reaction, arms cast wide as if waiting for applause from an invisible audience.
"That's right," she says, her contemptuous sneer making a mockery of the king's serene features. "My father broke your marriage long before you ever did. So, which will it be, Guinevere? Whatever shred of dignity you still possess," this punctuated by another laugh, "or your life? You have until sundown to decide."
With a final mocking bow, Mordred redons her helmet and takes her leave, closing the door behind her. Only then does Guinevere allow herself to sink slowly to the floor, quietly sobbing into her hands as Mordred leans against the wall and listens with satisfaction. ]
"A proposal, Guinevere." Gloved fingers reach out to cup a pale, trembling chin, and Mordred seems more amused than offended when Guinevere immediately jerks away from her touch. "Unlike Arthur, I am nothing if not merciful. Even a traitorous harlot has a place at my side. Become my queen, and be free of this persecution."
Refusing to be cowed by the obvious threat, Guinevere offers only a defiant glare in response.
"What is this nonsense you speak of?"
Mordred pauses, as if she might strike the other woman down for her impudence. Then, laughing, she removes her helmet.
"As much nonsense as your games of playing husband and wife."
Seeing her husband's face staring back at her, Guinevere's expression freezes halfway between fear and despair, hatred morphing into realization, then horror — all while Mordred openly gloats over her stunned reaction, arms cast wide as if waiting for applause from an invisible audience.
"That's right," she says, her contemptuous sneer making a mockery of the king's serene features. "My father broke your marriage long before you ever did. So, which will it be, Guinevere? Whatever shred of dignity you still possess," this punctuated by another laugh, "or your life? You have until sundown to decide."
With a final mocking bow, Mordred redons her helmet and takes her leave, closing the door behind her. Only then does Guinevere allow herself to sink slowly to the floor, quietly sobbing into her hands as Mordred leans against the wall and listens with satisfaction. ]
[ It doesn't matter how unfamiliar the armour is, that the figure leads an army of bone instead of flesh: even in a dream, even only as a part of his whole, Mordred knows her father anywhere. If she were more than an observer, she would doubtless interfere, but today, she has no choice except to be a silent witness. To watch Gray weaken with each passing second, the air itself conspiring against her. To listen when she finds the strength to question the would-be arbiter of her fate. To grow rigid as the will of Arthur finally speaks aloud, wishing for Gray to live, yet offering her only death.
To wake up with phantom pain coursing through her body, the dream ending almost the same way her life did. Blindly, she stumbles outside whatever abandoned building she's holed up inside, and retches, half expecting to see blood stain the ground in front of her instead of just the former contents of her stomach.
Later that day, a visibly annoyed Mordred barges into Gray's house; loudly smacking her hand against the nearest wall to draw attention to her presence. (Hopefully Gray has given up on whatever expectation of privacy she still had, if she ever had any illusions of such to begin with.) Looking slightly disheveled, she glares at the other girl; her voice still hoarse from earlier. ]
Don't show me weird dreams, idiot mouse. [ Did she really come all this way just to complain? ]
To wake up with phantom pain coursing through her body, the dream ending almost the same way her life did. Blindly, she stumbles outside whatever abandoned building she's holed up inside, and retches, half expecting to see blood stain the ground in front of her instead of just the former contents of her stomach.
Later that day, a visibly annoyed Mordred barges into Gray's house; loudly smacking her hand against the nearest wall to draw attention to her presence. (Hopefully Gray has given up on whatever expectation of privacy she still had, if she ever had any illusions of such to begin with.) Looking slightly disheveled, she glares at the other girl; her voice still hoarse from earlier. ]
Don't show me weird dreams, idiot mouse. [ Did she really come all this way just to complain? ]
[ Cat..................... her entire mood shifting, Mordred plops down cross-legged on the couch beside Gray, reaching over to pet the kitty. ]
My father. Part of him, at least. [ As if he doesn't already haunt her waking moments enough. The cat bunts against her hand, and she focuses her full attention on it instead of Gray; rubbing the side of its cheek gently. ] "The will of the king that was". ... This isn't me praising you at all, but it's a little impressive that you stood up to him despite your disadvantage. But just a little. Medium impressive at most.
My father. Part of him, at least. [ As if he doesn't already haunt her waking moments enough. The cat bunts against her hand, and she focuses her full attention on it instead of Gray; rubbing the side of its cheek gently. ] "The will of the king that was". ... This isn't me praising you at all, but it's a little impressive that you stood up to him despite your disadvantage. But just a little. Medium impressive at most.
I said I wasn't praising you!
[ She protests loudly, but reins herself in when the cat startles, soothing it with chin scritches. ]
It's obvious you lost. You know as well as I do that nothing can stand against that lance. [ Not even her usual except me. Pausing, she gnaws on the inside of her cheek, wondering if Gray even knows why Mordred saw such a sight in the first place. ]
This is my first time forming a contract with someone, but apparently it's common for Masters and Servants to see each other's pasts in dreams. No doubt that applies double to ones with a connection as strong as ours. So don't be surprised if it happens to you as well.
[ Less confidently, said to the top of the cat's head rather than to Gray's face: ] What I mean is... I didn't do it on purpose. My past ain't exactly private, but that doesn't mean yours shouldn't be. [ ... ] I'm still gonna keep bugging you about it if I see something weird, though.
[ Thanks, Mordred. ]
[ She protests loudly, but reins herself in when the cat startles, soothing it with chin scritches. ]
It's obvious you lost. You know as well as I do that nothing can stand against that lance. [ Not even her usual except me. Pausing, she gnaws on the inside of her cheek, wondering if Gray even knows why Mordred saw such a sight in the first place. ]
This is my first time forming a contract with someone, but apparently it's common for Masters and Servants to see each other's pasts in dreams. No doubt that applies double to ones with a connection as strong as ours. So don't be surprised if it happens to you as well.
[ Less confidently, said to the top of the cat's head rather than to Gray's face: ] What I mean is... I didn't do it on purpose. My past ain't exactly private, but that doesn't mean yours shouldn't be. [ ... ] I'm still gonna keep bugging you about it if I see something weird, though.
[ Thanks, Mordred. ]
[ Oh, here comes the instant relief as Dokja's shoulders sag and a grateful smile appears on his face. While he'd only required Gray's presence at the dinner, he won't deny it'll be a huge help to have an extra set of hands preparing dinner. ]
Thanks, Gray. I'll have to ask Eustace about it, too.
[ He says "Eustace" and then winces just a little bit because he heard that Eustace and Gray had a talk about... things...? And now he's reminded of that. ]
Thanks, Gray. I'll have to ask Eustace about it, too.
[ He says "Eustace" and then winces just a little bit because he heard that Eustace and Gray had a talk about... things...? And now he's reminded of that. ]
Meh, I knew you were gonna be a pain in my ass the first moment I saw you. So if you don't care, then I don't care. Means one less thing for me to worry about.
[ Not that she was worried. Now attempting to shake hands with the cat, she frowns when it jumps to the floor to lick itself, and instead stretches her arms out towards the ceiling; pausing to look down when Gray speaks again. ]
Oh, yeah? What was it? [ She sounds curious, but unbothered. She's confident that she has no memories that would embarrass her or be awkward... despite having many, many that would be both. But Gray's the one person who can get away with asking about almost anything in her past. ]
[ Not that she was worried. Now attempting to shake hands with the cat, she frowns when it jumps to the floor to lick itself, and instead stretches her arms out towards the ceiling; pausing to look down when Gray speaks again. ]
Oh, yeah? What was it? [ She sounds curious, but unbothered. She's confident that she has no memories that would embarrass her or be awkward... despite having many, many that would be both. But Gray's the one person who can get away with asking about almost anything in her past. ]
[ "Asking" is putting it kindly, considering the pursuit that followed, but Mordred doesn't flinch at being made to recall how terrible she was to the woman in question. Either because it's so far from the worst thing she did; or, more likely, she just genuinely feels no guilt over her actions. ]
Are you an idiot? I would've married her, obviously. [ She flexes from side to side, making mild grunts of effort, as if this is a totally normal conversation about totally normal things. ] Imagine my father rushing home to see not just his kingdom, but his wife, in my hands. It would have driven him even further into hatred and despair.
But man, you should've seen the look on the bishop's face when I told him. Said he'd curse me with bell, book, and candle. Never knew an old guy could run that fast.
Are you an idiot? I would've married her, obviously. [ She flexes from side to side, making mild grunts of effort, as if this is a totally normal conversation about totally normal things. ] Imagine my father rushing home to see not just his kingdom, but his wife, in my hands. It would have driven him even further into hatred and despair.
But man, you should've seen the look on the bishop's face when I told him. Said he'd curse me with bell, book, and candle. Never knew an old guy could run that fast.
We are, though. [ She says, lounging on Gray's couch, in Gray's house, in the middle of so-called enemy territory. Hm. ] Anyway, she locked herself up in the Tower of London after that. Once word got out that King Arthur was alive, I gave up my pursuit. I don't know or care what became of her in the end.
[ Her, or anyone else besides Arthur. Finally spotting the newcomer kitty, Mordred slides down onto the floor to meet it; arching her back in a very catlike pose to entreat it to come closer. It's almost impossible to think of more disingenuous scene, but such is the Mordred experience. ]
For a mouse, you sure do like cats.
[ Her, or anyone else besides Arthur. Finally spotting the newcomer kitty, Mordred slides down onto the floor to meet it; arching her back in a very catlike pose to entreat it to come closer. It's almost impossible to think of more disingenuous scene, but such is the Mordred experience. ]
For a mouse, you sure do like cats.
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