awashlogs | Catch All for May!

That and more, though I believe Shifu—that is, Shen Qingqiu—will be handling the details.

[ He gives her hand a squeeze. ]

It seems that we can all use a bit of a breather. And I am very much looking forward to playing music at your birthday party.

[ ............Wait what. ]

My birthday party?

[ How did--- ah, but he's just mentioned it Shen Qinqiu. He must have told him. ]

[ There are no secrets in such a small town, after all. Spooky~ ]

Oh dear, it seems that I have ruined the surprise…however shall you go on, Pyra?

[ It was supposed to be a surprise?! ]

I--.... W-well, I'm touched, that anyone would throw a birthday party. [ But now she kinda feels bad for being told! It's not like she can pretend to be surprised when she gets to the party now, either. ]

[ Anddddd she's actually smiling to herself. ]

Th-thank you. [ She brings a hand to her cheek, feeling them warm. ]

[ He was teasing, but the way she’s reacting…um…Shifu just what did you tell her exactly— ]

Whatever for?

[ He’s not the one throwing the party. He’s just part of the band. ]

If anything, I ought to thank you for such a lovely smile.

[ He didn't tell her anything!!! WHICH IS WHY THIS IS A SURPRISE AND SHE'S HAPPY AND TOUCHED THAT PEOPLE WHO THROW A PARTY FOR HER. Still flustered though, because gah friends! Doing nice things for her!

When he speaks, she looks back at him appreciatively. ] ...And, I'm very happy, to be able to be happy with you, and to smile as well.

[ .... ]

Tristan, remember when I said that there's someone I'd like you to meet?

[ But the network post was—

You know what, he’s not going to question this. ]

Indeed, I remember it well.

[ After all, it came on the heels of another party-to-be. And boy is he glad this one is actually taking off. ]

[ Shen Qinqiu told her not to read further, so she didn't!! ]

Well, I... [ Still holding his hand, she guides it upwards towards the top of her chest where the crystal lies. While she doesn't quite place his fingers to the gem, he will feel the hum of its light and energy prickling just at his fingertips. ]

...If you have the time, I would like you to meet her now.

[ Pyra… ]

Was she within you all this time?

[ Like Maya’s Persona? Or maybe even something like a mage’s summons? He can’t quite tell from the strange feeling he gets from her gem, but it’s benevolent, he decides. Anything that came from Pyra can’t be anything but. ]

I would like to meet her.

[ And with that, she will bring his finger to the crystal set up on her chest.

As with last time, he'll be engulfed in its light until there is nothing but its shine within his sight and all the rest of his senses. He'll awaken to a bed of tall grass, the expanse of the field, and the sunless sky all vibrantly colored, as well as a breeze and the scent of late spring. The bell continues to toll mournfully in the distance.

Pyra stands upon the hill next to the tree just as last time, and when he approaches, she greets him with a smile. ] It's nice to have you here again. [ She says calmly, welcoming. ] I admit, I am a little nervous.

[ Well this is certainly familiar. And he’s glad to visit it under far better circumstances. In fact, if he could just lie here forever…

…He’d be missing out on the chance to talk to Pyra. So up he gets, and approaches her, meeting her smile with his own before gazing out into the distance like always.

Damn beautiful place. He really should write a song for this as well— ]

There is no need to be so nervous.

[ But he’ll hold out his hand to her if that’ll make her feel any better… ]

If anything, I should be the anxious one. If I am to meet someone so important to you, then by all accounts I had better make a good impression.

[ Pyra takes his hand again, bringing her other one to be atop the grasp. ] Alright. [ A good impression isn't something he should be worrying about, but this other entity within her. Because this other self can be kinda... intense. ]

Just... one moment, please.

[ The instant she closes her eyes, she becomes as bright as the sun, her form haloed in a light that erases all uniqueness from her form, more like a faceless silhouette of power that shines and radiates energy, hovering off the ground. A pulse of light ripples through the world they're in, rustling the tree above them, and then the energy seems to condense and retreat back into itself, reforming and reshaping. ]

[ Someone else is now before him, hovering in the air peacefully, surrounded by an aura of gold that undulates in wisps from her skin. She is the same stature as Pyra, same physique, but unlike Pyra's warmth, this woman's light carries a heatless intensity to it.

She opens her eyes-- yellow, bright, severe-- but still holds his hands softly with the both of hers, even as she floats there.

Her long strands of golden hair fall slowly back around her, and she speaks. ] Looks like... [ Gravity recalls its purpose as she places one foot down upon the grass and then the other as she finds her balance, and the light condenses further back into her. ] ...we finally get to meet.

[ His eyes fly wide open in shock when she transforms—this is hardly how he’d expected a meet and greet to go, even in an unusual place like this.

To his credit, he doesn’t let go—in fact, he’s holding onto her perhaps a little too tightly, as if he might lose her again. She did have that unfortunate tendency to vanish out of existence sometimes… ]

This is…

[ When Mythra comes into being his grip on her relaxes—but only a little, in case she needs some help with gaining purchase upon the ground once more. And several things run through Tristan’s mind in the meantime—the strangeness of this encounter, the fact that she seems to be anticipating this as well, how it seems that she and Pyra can’t exist concurrently, the number of Pseudo-Servants and Demi-Servants in Chaldea who have lent credence to the possibility of multiple personalities existing within the same form, and then…

Oh, so it’s like Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde then? He finally eases back into a smile. ]

It is indeed an honor, my lady.

[ Had they met under any other circumstance, she wouldn't be quite so calm, let alone returning the smile. The difference between the way Mythra is here and the way she would have been forcefully awakened in her homeworld is that... she wants to meet the people here. She wants to interact with them, speak with them.

Hold hands with them....

Yeah, no, she's going to be taking back her hand because while Pyra is very good at being touchy-feely, Mythra is still a little shy of those things. She brings one hand to her hip, the other? Luxuriously brushes her hair over her shoulder. ]

Mythra. [ She offers her name. ] In case you're wondering, I've been here this entire time.

[ Ah…it had been nice holding her hand, but all right, he’ll retract his then. Mythra certainly seems much more…spirited than Pyra, but he’s seen plenty of attitude in Mordred alone, so at least he’s not intimidated by it. ]

Then I shall not trouble you with needless introductions, Miss Mythra.

[ She’s…probably learned his True Name too?? He’s not really sure how all this works. ]

Though it seems that Pyra has done you an injustice by failing to inform me of how…radiant you are.

[ She can't help but smile a bit at that. ] Ah... that? [ That radiance, that light (which she thinks he's speaking literally and not, say, telling her she's pretty) is different from Pyra's for a number of reasons. ]

That you think we're different in that regard is good; her "radiance" is imperfect and tempered. [ Just as she wants it to be, wasteful with giving off actual heat. ]

Pyra is... She's a construct I made. [ She goes onto explain for him. ] Another self, made to be a seal.

[ He’d have objections to the “imperfect” part, but he can see that Mythra is only stating facts here. ]

It is quite an unusual existence.

[ Not quite like Jekyll and Hyde, then. So she’d be something closer to an Alter Ego? But he’d yet to encounter such beings in his time. Still, this talk of seals…he can only be relieved that Pyra is effectively a separate entity, and not completely subsumed within Mythra’s greater presence. ]

But then…I suppose we have that much in common, in a way. But why do you not walk among us as Pyra does?

...Like I mentioned, she functions like a seal.

[ Gracefully lifting a hand, she points it towards herself. ] For me.

[ The hand drifts back down to her hip, and she tilts her chin upwards. Were it Pyra, she would be expressing this a bit more sadly, but Mythra's tone instead is hardened. ] You already know I'm a weapon. If I was awakened...

It would be dangerous, even in this world. [ Especially because their emotions and personalities can be altered! She could hurt someone! ]

Edited 2019-05-06 16:20 (UTC)

[ It all makes a little more sense now, especially from what he’d learned the last time he’d been here. ]

This…saddens me. A maiden should be able to live freely, to be unburdened by such…constraints.

[ And he’d always been one for saving fair maidens from captivity, after all. ]

But I take it that you wish to be sealed away out of love for humanity as well?

[ Her fingers twitch at her side. ]

Aa. [ She nods, bowing her head.... and she pauses to reflect upon just how much she's changed to actually agree to the statement that she loves humanity. It took far too long, and far too heavy of a price. ]

This place isn't my world, but I love it still, as well as the people here. While we... don't aways believe we're doing the best with helping others [ Although they TRY really damn hard. ] we do want to protect them. Or at least, not hurt them.

It helps that there are a number of incredibly strong people here as well... Including you. You all do a good job of protecting and helping others already. There's no need for me.

[ ... ] But, still. I'm glad to have gotten the opportunity to meet you at all.

[ Despite her hesitation, he’s convinced that she’s sincere, and that’s a relief. His master had to fight an all-powerful humanity-hating superbeing, after all…

But more importantly— ]

You say that as if you will not linger.

[ Is she like a Servant then, whose lifespan is bound up in a number of restrictions and whose death will always be a foregone conclusion? ]

And if I must be so bold, Miss Mythra, you do yourself an injustice by saying that you are not needed. Pyra has done a great deal for this world…even for me. I have no doubt that you can also rise to the occasion.

[ Plus, he’s…pretty sure she’s not essentially cursed like he is.

…Pretty sure. ]

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still me

Re: still me

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