Eins

[erbe]

For the elements, silver and iron. For the foundation, stone and the Archduke of Pacts. And for the ancestor, my great master, Schweinorg. Close the gates of the four directions. Come forth from the Crown and follow the forked road leading to the Kingdom. Fill, fill, fill, fill, fill. Repeat five times. When each is filled, destroy it. Set.

Heed my words. My will creates your body, and your sword creates my destiny. If you heed the Grail's call and obey my will and reason, then answer me! I hereby swear that I shall be all the good in the world. That I shall defeat all evil in the world. Thou Seventh Heaven, clad in the three great words of power, come forth from the circle of binding, Guardian of the Scales!

[This is a master (haha) post for Fate/PSLs! If you need anything specific tailored to your character (like a starter that doesn't start with the summoning like the above) let me know! We'll work something out over PM or Plurk.]

Comments

[lastparadise]

Of course. Well, I suppose a modern mage may not be able to do it... but yes, it is quite possible. We'll only redirect enough to strengthen the wards on the manor, though. Any more than that would likely draw more attention than it's worth.

[He takes the mug from Rin after she's poured the water to inhale the steam. It'll be a couple minutes yet before he can drink it, but it smells good.]

[erbe]

[Amazing... If she gets to see him pull off that there will be absolutely no doubt this is the Merlin of legend. Everything hints toward that conclusion, but it's still difficult to believe. Merely because she's astonished she of all people has summoned one of the top mages in all of history.]

I suppose it shouldn't be too much for one such as yourself since as you must have notice this house itself is on a ley line.

[lastparadise]

Yes, your ancestors chose well.

[Merlin pauses to take a sip of that tea, closing his eyes briefly. He smiles at her to show his gratitude, forgetting for just a moment to reel in the charm that comes with his heritage. Clearing his throat, he quickly corrects that — he can't go dazzling his Master, that could get messy!]

Please be sure to take me to the temple. My being here means there won't be a Master stationed there, so I'll do my work there.

[erbe]

If you insist. There are people who live there, so I urge you to be careful. I don't want to make any extra work for us by having to deal with people who end up seeing things they shouldn't.

[The more likely option is she's too soft, and doesn't want to have to bloody her hands if she doesn't have to.]

[lastparadise]

You needn't worry. None of the process is visible to those who aren't magically inclined, and I will know if any other mages are nearby.

[His eyes twinkle at her over his cup as that smile twists into a little smirk.]

We won't need to hurt anyone.

[erbe]

[D—don't look at her like that! That look does way more to charm her than anything else. Probably because he revealed her true feelings without mocking them. Tohsaka huffs and turns her head away to avoid his gaze. She blows on her tea once more before daintily sipping.

Stupid Merlin with his stupid face.]

Good. Having to do otherwise would be troublesome.

[lastparadise]

[That reaction is so endearing that he can't help but flirt a little. He reaches out to lightly place a hand on her arm, highly amused. At least he manages to keep that amusement off his face.]

I'll do my best to keep your hands clean. There's no need to involve anyone other than the Masters and their Servants. I can't promise the safety of our opponents, of course, but that's simply how the game is played.

[Ideally, they won't be killing anyone who isn't already dead. That includes Kirei, naturally.]

[erbe]

Yes, I'm aware.

[Oh my god he keeps going! She doesn't need to hear this! His words make her ears burn. Tohsaka thought she'd get a Servant who ridiculed her desires, but instead she gets this guy who just agrees with her like he reads her mind.

Rin sips loudly as if the noise will cancel out him. Eventually she has to look at him again, though.]

This tea is quite good. I'll have one more cup, and we can head out for the day.

[Yes please let her change the subject.]

[lastparadise]

[He takes his hand away after a moment or two, focusing on his own mug since clearly Rin is done talking about it. Ah, it's going to be difficult to resist teasing her... but he really should restrain himself. After all, he's massively inconveniencing her in various ways by manifesting as a Servant and forcing her to sustain him — the least he can do is try to not be too much of a bother.]

Very well. Are you feeling better? We should keep whatever you don't drink regardless — I'm afraid I'm not exactly cheap to sustain.

[erbe]

It will still keep its restorative properties after it's been chilled or steeped for a second time?

[Most quality leaves can be steeped as many as three to four times, but the first steep is usually the strongest.]

[lastparadise]

It won't be quite as effective, but we can't be picky during a war, can we?

[After another delicate sip of his own tea, he dematerializes and settles with Rin again.]

I'm ready when you are.

[erbe]

[Rin rests a hand on her chest right over her heart when Merlin dematerializes and rests within her. It's a different, indescribable feeling. But it's small, and easy to put to the back of her mind if he stays quiet and she focuses on other things. Rin will clean everything up. The current pot will get put into a pitcher to be served over ice later, the steeped petals will be kept fresh in a plastic back in the fridge, and the dishes will be rinsed and then washed. Once the dining area is tidied Rin nods, and communicates to him wordlessly:]

I'm ready. Let's go.

[And then they head out so she can give him a tour of Fuyuki.]

[lastparadise]

[At first, Merlin has very little to say save for indicating a couple spots where he wants her to leave just a pinch of her mana for a larger spell they'll cast later. But once they're downtown, that all changes. She'll be able to feel his excitement at the number of people bustling around.]

Actually being here is certainly different from just seeing it! Humanity really shapes the world now, doesn't it?

[Perhaps he should see that as a bad thing, but he doesn't... especially not since modern food production has resulted in some particularly busty beauties. It's truly a blessing Rin can't tell what he's observing.]

[erbe]

[It is, because she'd scold her servant severely for getting off track. Rin does as she's told — more than a little excited to learn more things about magic from one of the best magi in history.]

It does. If you'd like we can set aside one day for you to experience the world as it is. One day shouldn't hurt, as hopefully this war will be short.

[That's right. If they can keep the length of the war to a minimum then there's bound to be less casualties and less of a chance Merlin drains the whole city of its mana supply just to keep sustained.]

[lastparadise]

[He's so tempted to tease her about asking him on a date, but for once he shows restraint and keeps that to himself.]

It's a shame I can't manifest physically in public. My appearance is... distracting. I suppose I have my father to thank for that.

[erbe]

Your father?

[That sparks her interest. In the stories of Merlin there was never much talk about his family or lineage. Most of what the world knows about him is in relation to King Arthur.]

[lastparadise]

He was an incubus.

[There's a faint hint of amusement in his tone as he waits for her reaction. Will she be relieved that there's an explanation for his looks, or worried that he'll try something? Or maybe one of the other possibilities...]

1/?

[erbe]

[Huh, an incubus? How odd. It's very rare that your hear about—]

[erbe]

[WAIT]

[erbe]

[AN INCUBUS? WHAT??? FUCK!! Is that why he looks the way he does? Is that why he'd be 'too distracting' in physical form? Oh goodness, maybe that's why she felt soo embarrassed in front of him!]

d-done....

[erbe]

[Oh, but it's probably so awful for him, isn't it? So troublesome. All he wants to do is practice magic, and he's saddled with a difficult lineage! What if he resents that part of himself? She wonders just how hard his life must be with such genetics...!

In the end her overactive imagination calms her down.]

Oh. I see.

[lastparadise]

[How interesting. At first she panics a little, but when she calms down, it almost seems like she feels sorry for him.]

As you have likely surmised, it can be troublesome...

[And he makes it worse by sticking his dick where he shouldn't.]

Though it was rare, it wasn't unheard of in those days for people to be mixed breeds. Now that we are in the age of man, it's nearly impossible. It's almost a shame, really.

[erbe]

A shame? Do you think it was better back then?

[She walks up toward the station, and following the crowd of people she files onto the train at Fuyuki Station.]

[lastparadise]

I wouldn't say that. To see how the world has been shaped by humanity is fascinating, but it is bittersweet to know that comes at the cost of losing other races. All eras have their own charm.

[...but for mages, it was most certainly better back then. The world itself was more magical, full of mystery. He'll keep that to himself since she likely knows that anyway.]

[erbe]

[For a brief moment Tohsaka wonders what it would be like to live in an era full of magic and fantastical peoples. Everyday a new adventure, and the magic much closer to true miracles than what's achievable today.

Everyone is packed into the train. Tohsaka lifts her hand to take hold of an overhead grip so she doesn't reel back when the rail starts forward.]

I wonder if some of them still exist in hiding like magi do.