Who are you gonna believe? Some dusty old stories, or someone who was there?
He didn't stop at just potatoes, either. His whole idea of cooking was mashing everything together into one big mess no matter what the ingredients were; all while singing that damn song of his! Sure, it was funny watching the other knights' reactions, but I still had to eat it eventually! [ In her room. Alone. Like a loser. ]
And then there were the comments! "Be sure to take more vegetables with you, Sir Mordred!" "Are you eating enough, Sir Mordred? You don't seem to be growing at all..." Where the hell did he get off, actin' like he was everyone's big brother?
[ Before Gray can try to deny that she didn't believe Mordred, she's getting steamrolled by Mordred's rant. Which she doesn't mind, actually; any insight into how the Round Table actually was is interesting to her. As intimidated as she is by King Arthur, she feels she owes quite a bit to the other knights.
She finds Gawain's comments cute and wouldn't mind getting to know a doting, brotherly knight herself, but she's sure that sentiment wouldn't be welcome within Mordred's earshot. ]
[ Gray starts laughing before she can stop herself. She should be stopping herself because risking Mordred's ire in one's own house is probably a bad idea when she's shown herself more than willing to Clarent a building up, but it's just too funny. At least Gray's laugh is as polite as she is, never too loud and good-natured rather than mocking. ]
[ Immediately, she grumbles a complaint. ] You've got some real freakin' nerve, praising another Knight of the Round Table in front of me... argh, fine. Fine! I'll prove that I'm better than some idiot with muscles for brains! Get ready to be impressed!
[ She's quiet for a few moments, thinking. Then, much less confidently, her voice wobbling as she goes: ]
T... take some mashed veggies... ♪ Knead and turn, knead and turn ♪ Take some mashed veggies, mix 'em around and— SPLAT! [ Punching her open palm for emphasis. ]
[ This is the sound of Gray trying to calculate whether or not laughing would be too rude. In the end, she decides she can't laugh at Mordred's momentary bout of c*teness. ]
[ Gray blinks. She kind of knew already that Mordred didn't find her objectionable, but it's surprising to hear her outright admit a positive feeling. ]
[ Fortunately, it's hard for her to stay annoyed with Gray — so while others may have gotten further, angrier denials, Mordred lets it go with another tch. ]
Well... [ How does she say this without being discouraging. ] That whole meal... was probably enough energy to cover this conversation right now. In other words, I'd have to eat non-stop if I was relying on food alone to keep me going.
Yeah, but they'd have to use their own magical energy to do it. And since I'm so powerful, I'd drain a regular human dry before I even got around to using my Noble Phantasm. I doubt I'd be any better off than I am now, in that case.
I'd still eat just as much, though. Know why? It's all about the taste! Sandwiches! Muffins! Chocolate! Woohoo!
[ Gray smiles. Mordred can really be surprisingly cute. ]
Modern food must be very different to the food in your time. I know I was shocked when I left my village and ate at my first nice restaurant. I had no idea food could taste so complicated.
[ Or that desserts could be so delectable. ]
If you had to have a Master, what would you want them to be like?
Alright, it's decided! Once I'm king, my first order of business is gonna be getting some good food! I'll start by banning vegetables!
[ What are you, five... oh wait. At least Gray's question prompts a more serious answer, with Mordred pausing to give it some thought. ]
To begin with, they'd have to be super powerful. Prepared to do anything to win, but never stooping so low as to involve innocent people. A confident and bold exterior, balanced with a healthy pragmatism. Most importantly, they should understand their place.
In a Master-Servant relationship, I'm the one in charge... but I won't accept a simpering fool for a Master, either. They ought to be worthy of commanding me, even if it's my choice whether or not to accept those commands. You could call them a trusted advisor to the king.
[ A little more resigned: ] ... I'd also prefer someone I could get along with... but that's probably not possible for me. That's why I need to be careful about who I choose — it'd be annoying to have to kill them and start over again.
At least the other parts make sense. Someone powerful, driven, sensible, and just. (The last one surprises Gray a little, but in a good way.) All of that sounds a bit like King Arthur...
Except for the part about knowing their place. Gray never knew King Arthur, but she gets the feeling he wouldn't be content to bow to Mordred's commands for the sake of it. ]
Rin sounds like she could be a good choice. And she has experience as a Master.
[ She's not overly surprised to hear Gray suggest Rin — it's not as if she's never thought about it herself. That's why she just sighs in response. ]
Yeah, she does. And that's the problem. [ No, she won't elaborate. ] If you wanna know why, ask her about her Grail War sometime. It should be clear we aren't compatible.
[ As I pretend some of the gardens conversation happened before this so she doesn't spend an hour screaming about the second part...
Not in a mocking tone for once, but clearly quoting someone: ]
"A blue Saber. Hair kept neater than yours, and a measured expression like a perfectly placid lake surface. She wasn't mine, but I think we would have been unstoppable together." — That's the first thing Red told me about King Arthur. [ Yes, she remembers the exact words Rin used... sorry she's a freak. ] How could I be the Servant of someone who thinks like that?
I need to be stronger, and more admirable than my father. Enough that even if he were here, people would still... [ "choose me". Realizing she's been too open with her insecurities, she backtracks. ] ... Well, I'm obviously the better choice. Red's just biased, is all.
[ That's quite the thing to be able to parrot back. But put that way, Gray can see Mordred's logic — especially as someone whose place in legend revolved around her conflict with her father. (Gray still has questions about how Arthur was Mordred's father when Arthur was definitely a woman, but Gray will never dare breach that topic.)
She can't really comment on how Mordred is as a Servant compared to Arthur. She also doesn't doubt that Rin and Arthur would have done well together, if only because of Rin's driven personality. All Gray can really say is... ]
Um, for what it's worth, I think you're already strong and admirable.
[ And abrasive and hot-headed, but one person can be all of these things. ]
... I don't need you to tell me. Like I said, it's just Red who hasn't got the memo yet.
[ She looks to the side. ]
Honestly, I never cared about being "admirable" when I was alive... but that was before I made up my mind to become king. Someone who rules for their own sake, with only minor consideration for the common people — most kings in history were like that. That's why the only one worth emulating is the King of Knights.
Even though I don't admire my father [ lol, lmao, etc ], I can admit he had some admirablish qualities. I never once disagreed with any of his decisions... except for in regards to me. [ The certainty in her voice wanes, replaced by frustration. ] So, to surpass him... I need to reach the same level of perfection, and find whatever he was missing. Then I can force him to acknowledge [ "me" ] his mistake.
[ Ah. She's beginning to see more of what makes Mordred tick. She's spoken before about wanting to surpass Arthur, and about becoming a king. But put this way, the framing is a bit more complicated, and human as well. Where once Gray would have had serious doubts about what Mordred might be like as a ruler, Mordred's consideration now speaks to a certain amount of potential. Not that Gray knows anything about what it takes to be a king, so her opinion can only count for so much.
(Gray also thinks she heard a made-up word in there, but she keeps that to herself.) ]
What he was missing... What do you think that was?
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He didn't stop at just potatoes, either. His whole idea of cooking was mashing everything together into one big mess no matter what the ingredients were; all while singing that damn song of his! Sure, it was funny watching the other knights' reactions, but I still had to eat it eventually! [ In her room. Alone. Like a loser. ]
And then there were the comments! "Be sure to take more vegetables with you, Sir Mordred!" "Are you eating enough, Sir Mordred? You don't seem to be growing at all..." Where the hell did he get off, actin' like he was everyone's big brother?
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She finds Gawain's comments cute and wouldn't mind getting to know a doting, brotherly knight herself, but she's sure that sentiment wouldn't be welcome within Mordred's earshot. ]
A song... What kind of song was that?
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[ Gray didn't explicitly ask her to sing, but details. In a really bad, awful, no-good imitation of Gawain's voice: ]
Mash, mash, mash. ♪ Mash it all up, and there's nothing you can't eat! Mash, mash, mash. ♪ If you can crush it, you can eat it! Mash!
[ Despite the sing-song tone, her expression remains dour the entire time. ]
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[ But she looks at Gray's smile, and despite her Mordred-ness, she can't help breaking into one of her own. ]
... I guess it is pretty funny. Bet I could come up with a better one, though.
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[ Is she trying to goad Mordred into doubling down with another terrible song? Yes. ]
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[ She's quiet for a few moments, thinking. Then, much less confidently, her voice wobbling as she goes: ]
T... take some mashed veggies... ♪ Knead and turn, knead and turn ♪ Take some mashed veggies, mix 'em around and— SPLAT! [ Punching her open palm for emphasis. ]
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[ This is the sound of Gray trying to calculate whether or not laughing would be too rude. In the end, she decides she can't laugh at Mordred's momentary bout of c*teness. ]
Yours is more exciting.
[ It contains 100% more punching. ]
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[ No she didn't. ]
This is why I like you, mouse! You've got more sense than any of those Round Table blockheads!
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You like me?
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Hah? Don't be ridiculous! As if I'd ever like someone with my father's face! E-even if you do have a cool scar now...
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I like it too.
[ Not because it's cool, but because it's something of her face to call her own.
In any case, she decides to be kind by giving Mordred an out. ]
Do you want more food? I'm not familiar with how much Servants need to eat for energy.
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Well... [ How does she say this without being discouraging. ] That whole meal... was probably enough energy to cover this conversation right now. In other words, I'd have to eat non-stop if I was relying on food alone to keep me going.
[ Just like a certain blue Saber. ]
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[ It's a bit boggling to hear it put that way, but it does make sense given that the power and existence of a Servant is itself a minor miracle. ]
But if you had a Master, they would be able to replenish you?
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I'd still eat just as much, though. Know why? It's all about the taste! Sandwiches! Muffins! Chocolate! Woohoo!
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Modern food must be very different to the food in your time. I know I was shocked when I left my village and ate at my first nice restaurant. I had no idea food could taste so complicated.
[ Or that desserts could be so delectable. ]
If you had to have a Master, what would you want them to be like?
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Alright, it's decided! Once I'm king, my first order of business is gonna be getting some good food! I'll start by banning vegetables!
[ What are you, five... oh wait. At least Gray's question prompts a more serious answer, with Mordred pausing to give it some thought. ]
To begin with, they'd have to be super powerful. Prepared to do anything to win, but never stooping so low as to involve innocent people. A confident and bold exterior, balanced with a healthy pragmatism. Most importantly, they should understand their place.
In a Master-Servant relationship, I'm the one in charge... but I won't accept a simpering fool for a Master, either. They ought to be worthy of commanding me, even if it's my choice whether or not to accept those commands. You could call them a trusted advisor to the king.
[ A little more resigned: ] ... I'd also prefer someone I could get along with... but that's probably not possible for me. That's why I need to be careful about who I choose — it'd be annoying to have to kill them and start over again.
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At least the other parts make sense. Someone powerful, driven, sensible, and just. (The last one surprises Gray a little, but in a good way.) All of that sounds a bit like King Arthur...
Except for the part about knowing their place. Gray never knew King Arthur, but she gets the feeling he wouldn't be content to bow to Mordred's commands for the sake of it. ]
Rin sounds like she could be a good choice. And she has experience as a Master.
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Yeah, she does. And that's the problem. [ No, she won't elaborate. ] If you wanna know why, ask her about her Grail War sometime. It should be clear we aren't compatible.
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She told me a bit about it. That King Arthur participated, but was consumed by the Grail.
[ It makes her all the more grateful that her mentor ended up not joining. ]
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Not in a mocking tone for once, but clearly quoting someone: ]
"A blue Saber. Hair kept neater than yours, and a measured expression like a perfectly placid lake surface. She wasn't mine, but I think we would have been unstoppable together." — That's the first thing Red told me about King Arthur. [ Yes, she remembers the exact words Rin used... sorry she's a freak. ] How could I be the Servant of someone who thinks like that?
I need to be stronger, and more admirable than my father. Enough that even if he were here, people would still... [ "choose me". Realizing she's been too open with her insecurities, she backtracks. ] ... Well, I'm obviously the better choice. Red's just biased, is all.
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She can't really comment on how Mordred is as a Servant compared to Arthur. She also doesn't doubt that Rin and Arthur would have done well together, if only because of Rin's driven personality. All Gray can really say is... ]
Um, for what it's worth, I think you're already strong and admirable.
[ And abrasive and hot-headed, but one person can be all of these things. ]
1/2
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[ She looks to the side. ]
Honestly, I never cared about being "admirable" when I was alive... but that was before I made up my mind to become king. Someone who rules for their own sake, with only minor consideration for the common people — most kings in history were like that. That's why the only one worth emulating is the King of Knights.
Even though I don't admire my father [ lol, lmao, etc ], I can admit he had some admirablish qualities. I never once disagreed with any of his decisions... except for in regards to me. [ The certainty in her voice wanes, replaced by frustration. ] So, to surpass him... I need to reach the same level of perfection, and find whatever he was missing. Then I can force him to acknowledge [ "me" ] his mistake.
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(Gray also thinks she heard a made-up word in there, but she keeps that to herself.) ]
What he was missing... What do you think that was?
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preserves your typo in amber
DROPS IMMEDIATELY
:innocent:
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