[ Concern immediately floods Gray's expression, her hand tightening around Rin's. Any installation or removal a magic crest is supposed to be painful even when compatibility exists between mage and crest, so for one to be forced upon her...
That said, mages are proud creatures who don't like attention being drawn to their struggles, so Gray reins in her outward worry as much as she can, aside from her grip on Rin's hand. ]
[Gently she pushes up her sleeve on her left arm to reveal the false crest. The turquoise portions glow as she gently makes to activate and reveal her family crest. The fake looks like an unnatural expansion of what she inherited from her father.
Tohsaka's brows furrow, and a cold sweat breaks out along her hairline. With grinding teeth she worries at the inside of her cheek to prevent herself from falling into the urge to cast even just a little bit of Zenith born magic on either of them. Only when the iron taste of her own blood slides down her throat does she let the two crests fade. The darker outline of the false crest remains when the bluish glow fades. Much like a tattoo.]
[ Mordred's overly dramatic hopping comes to a grinding halt once she sees the state of Rin's crest(s), and she stares intently at the other girl's arm as the lines fade. ]
Tch... this sorta shit's way too familiar to me. My old lady was always using other people's lives as pawns in whatever fucked-up plans she concocted. [ Growling: ] It pisses me off! I mean, it really pisses me off! Kill people the normal way, you goddamn freaks!
[ All typical Mordred reactions... but just as quickly as she riled herself up, she's suddenly all business. ]
But we have bigger concerns right now. Red, would that medicine you use help with this? If not, is there something else you can think of? Even if there's just a chance of it working, no matter how slim, don't you dare hold back with your suggestions. The two of us will aid you however we can — right, mouse?
[ Gray is relieved for Rin that her family crest is intact, though it's still concerning that there's an alien element attached to it. Knowing how much goes into the cultivation of a mage's crest, seeing one appended like this drops a sick feeling into Gray's gut.
She nods in ready agreement with Mordred, even if she has no clue how non-mages like the two of them could help. ]
What does that... false crest do? Is it interfering with your family crest?
Not as far as I can tell. Aetos had said it was an enhancement, and I am assuming it is simply their imitation of a mage crest with different rules.
[Because even if the mysterious figure had explained it, Rin isn't sure she trusts it fully. Everything could be some test, an experiment with variables that she wasn't made aware of. After all, it's not as if you can tell your little lab rat everything — right?
Rin tongues at the blister on the inside of her cheek. Slowly healing from when she bit down to prevent herself from crying in front of strangers. Though... in the end that proved futile too.]
I think I just need to get my discord stabilized. I really want to...
[To use it. To show them not to pity her, but to look on with awe and grand admiration.]
[ Is all she says to that, though there's an element of frustration in her voice. She hasn't cleansed discord for someone else before, but she still knows it's best done with someone from the opposite faction. In other words, not her. ]
Guess you're up, mouse. Don't worry — if she goes berserk, I'll hit her 'til she's unconscious. Then we can stabilize her while she's out.
[ If she goes berserk?? Gray is suddenly concerned about the idea of this nice reunion turning into an impromptu bludgeoning session. ]
Hopefully we won't need to go that far...
[ But either way, she's up for a bit of Discord-dispelling. She and Rin have already done it before, so she figures it should be straightforward. Gray steps closer, considering how they should do this efficiently. With Rin's level of Discord, it might take a bit more than just chatting to get things done in short time. In the end she settles for some nice, clean h*nd-h*lding, and reaches for Rin's hand accordingly. ]
So it was Aetos. Did they say why they wanted to do this to you?
[AHHHH IT'S DIFFERENT WHEN SOMEONE ELSE INITIATES IT. Tohsaka's cheeks start to glow with healthy color as her eyes dart off to look at... something else. Like the dirt.]
A-ah, yes. They had said they wanted sturdier shards to work on. I wasn't the only one there.
[ Even Gray can see that Rin is feeling awkward about the h*nd-h*lding, though it's very strange indeed that she'd feel that way when she initiated the h*lding of not just one, but two h*nds about a minute ago. Mages are strange creatures.
Gray ignores Mordred's goading and continues to stand there and hold Rin's h*nd at a normal pressure like a normal person, noting absently that it's a very nice h*nd. ]
[Tohsaka is ready to snap at Mordred, but Gray's question brings her back. Before she answers her hand twitches in Gray's grip — nervous about how the scales will feel in contrast to her normally unblemished skin.]
Hm, his name was Dokja, I believe.
[Sorry, buddy. She's just ratting you out. It's not like she gains anything from withholding the information.]
[ Gray looks like someone just smacked her across the face... Her hand tightens on Rin's unconsciously. Puzzle pieces are falling in place that she feels quite stupid for not putting together before. (She does not pay attention to Mordred.) ]
[ Mordred, tired of being ignored for a whole thirty seconds, steps in and puts a hand on each of their shoulders. ]
Alright, alright. Both of you, cut it out! [ She tightens her grip. ] No more talking about this jar guy until Red's stable. Otherwise, I'll give you something way worse to worry about.
[ Jar guy.......... Gray frowns, chastising herself for not realizing what happened to Dokja earlier, but Mordred is right that Rin should be the focus at the moment. ]
Right...
[ Gray can feel the scaly hardness of Rin's hand, but she makes no comment of it. Her grip eases, only for her other hand to come up and carefully sandwich Rin's between both hands. Double the Discord-dispelling power...?? ]
Um, let me know if this feels like it's helping, Rin.
[Despite the initial surprise, the sudden double hand holding sparks (or snaps?) something in Rin. Physical contact, the intent of dispelling discord, someone tasty.
Rin turns her hands to catch Gray's. A devious smile carves itself on her lips as she steps in closer. Slowly, carefully, like a predator enclosing in on its prey. Instead of Discord vanishing, Gray may feel it sinking into her. Like cold water soaking her fingertips and rising up to her hands, to her arms...]
Maybe it is. Do you feel it, Gray? Do you think you're helping?
[Another step. There isn't that much of a height difference between them, but Rin still stands taller. Almost menacingly so. As if possessed by the will of her Discord — her false crest glows again.]
Shit... this is exactly what I was talking about before! Mouse, get away from her!
[ But she's not going to stand around and wait for her words to take effect, if they even do. She shoves Rin away, not caring about how much force she uses in the push, and promptly tackles Gray to the ground; shielding the other girl with her own body. Would it have made more sense to take out the threat first? Yeah. Is her immediate instinct to protect Gray at all costs? Also yeah. ]
[ Gray doesn't move as Rin draws close, a morbid fascination anchoring her feet as the other girl's demeanor shifts. Cold sinks up her fingers and onward...
And then Rin is suddenly shoved aside? And now Gray is getting tackled??
She hits the ground with a small oof and tries immediately to sit up and look to Rin. ]
[The shove brings some notion of disappointment, and it takes a bit of balance to correct herself before she falls back into the plot of land with the growing truthblooms. However when Gray calls her name she fully comes back. Whatever urge had taken hold of her now settled back into someplace buried away.
The realization of what she almost did dawns on her, and so Rin deduces quickly that she cannot trust herself around other people. In a flash she turns towards the exit and starts running for it.]
[ In an instant, she's back on her feet. Another instant, and with mana surging through her legs, she blasts off after Rin like a rocket; ready to tackle her far more roughly than she did Gray... though she'll at least endeavour to be the one breaking the fall this time. ]
[ Ah. Gray had been prepared to burst off after Rin as well, but she knows there's no use trying to beat a Servant in speed. She gets up and trots after them at a human pace, alert for any new developments. ]
[Shock is what catches her the moment that Mordred's body collides with hers. She braces for impact, but the other young woman makes sure to take the brunt of the fall. For a few moments Rin is in her arms — face and limbs tucked against her small body.
However after a few seconds of realizing there's no injury to be had, Rin starts struggling to be let free.]
Let me go! I clearly can't be around people right now.
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[ Rin and Gray can now have a serious conversation while Mordred hops around on one leg. ]
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A false crest?
[ Concern immediately floods Gray's expression, her hand tightening around Rin's. Any installation or removal a magic crest is supposed to be painful even when compatibility exists between mage and crest, so for one to be forced upon her...
That said, mages are proud creatures who don't like attention being drawn to their struggles, so Gray reins in her outward worry as much as she can, aside from her grip on Rin's hand. ]
What about your family crest?
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[Gently she pushes up her sleeve on her left arm to reveal the false crest. The turquoise portions glow as she gently makes to activate and reveal her family crest. The fake looks like an unnatural expansion of what she inherited from her father.
Tohsaka's brows furrow, and a cold sweat breaks out along her hairline. With grinding teeth she worries at the inside of her cheek to prevent herself from falling into the urge to cast even just a little bit of Zenith born magic on either of them. Only when the iron taste of her own blood slides down her throat does she let the two crests fade. The darker outline of the false crest remains when the bluish glow fades. Much like a tattoo.]
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Tch... this sorta shit's way too familiar to me. My old lady was always using other people's lives as pawns in whatever fucked-up plans she concocted. [ Growling: ] It pisses me off! I mean, it really pisses me off! Kill people the normal way, you goddamn freaks!
[ All typical Mordred reactions... but just as quickly as she riled herself up, she's suddenly all business. ]
But we have bigger concerns right now. Red, would that medicine you use help with this? If not, is there something else you can think of? Even if there's just a chance of it working, no matter how slim, don't you dare hold back with your suggestions. The two of us will aid you however we can — right, mouse?
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She nods in ready agreement with Mordred, even if she has no clue how non-mages like the two of them could help. ]
What does that... false crest do? Is it interfering with your family crest?
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[Because even if the mysterious figure had explained it, Rin isn't sure she trusts it fully. Everything could be some test, an experiment with variables that she wasn't made aware of. After all, it's not as if you can tell your little lab rat everything — right?
Rin tongues at the blister on the inside of her cheek. Slowly healing from when she bit down to prevent herself from crying in front of strangers. Though... in the end that proved futile too.]
I think I just need to get my discord stabilized. I really want to...
[To use it. To show them not to pity her, but to look on with awe and grand admiration.]
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[ Is all she says to that, though there's an element of frustration in her voice. She hasn't cleansed discord for someone else before, but she still knows it's best done with someone from the opposite faction. In other words, not her. ]
Guess you're up, mouse. Don't worry — if she goes berserk, I'll hit her 'til she's unconscious. Then we can stabilize her while she's out.
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Hopefully we won't need to go that far...
[ But either way, she's up for a bit of Discord-dispelling. She and Rin have already done it before, so she figures it should be straightforward. Gray steps closer, considering how they should do this efficiently. With Rin's level of Discord, it might take a bit more than just chatting to get things done in short time. In the end she settles for some nice, clean h*nd-h*lding, and reaches for Rin's hand accordingly. ]
So it was Aetos. Did they say why they wanted to do this to you?
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A-ah, yes. They had said they wanted sturdier shards to work on. I wasn't the only one there.
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Careful, I think Red's coming down with something. You'd better hold on a little tighter in case she faints.
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Gray ignores Mordred's goading and continues to stand there and hold Rin's h*nd at a normal pressure like a normal person, noting absently that it's a very nice h*nd. ]
Who else was there?
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Hm, his name was Dokja, I believe.
[Sorry, buddy. She's just ratting you out. It's not like she gains anything from withholding the information.]
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Don't know him. [ More petulantly: ] Are either of you even listening to me?
[ pay attention to heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeer ]
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Mr. Dokja...?
[ Gray looks like someone just smacked her across the face... Her hand tightens on Rin's unconsciously. Puzzle pieces are falling in place that she feels quite stupid for not putting together before. (She does not pay attention to Mordred.) ]
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You know him, Gray?
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Alright, alright. Both of you, cut it out! [ She tightens her grip. ] No more talking about this jar guy until Red's stable. Otherwise, I'll give you something way worse to worry about.
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Right...
[ Gray can feel the scaly hardness of Rin's hand, but she makes no comment of it. Her grip eases, only for her other hand to come up and carefully sandwich Rin's between both hands. Double the Discord-dispelling power...?? ]
Um, let me know if this feels like it's helping, Rin.
1/2
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Rin turns her hands to catch Gray's. A devious smile carves itself on her lips as she steps in closer. Slowly, carefully, like a predator enclosing in on its prey. Instead of Discord vanishing, Gray may feel it sinking into her. Like cold water soaking her fingertips and rising up to her hands, to her arms...]
Maybe it is. Do you feel it, Gray? Do you think you're helping?
[Another step. There isn't that much of a height difference between them, but Rin still stands taller. Almost menacingly so. As if possessed by the will of her Discord — her false crest glows again.]
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[ But she's not going to stand around and wait for her words to take effect, if they even do. She shoves Rin away, not caring about how much force she uses in the push, and promptly tackles Gray to the ground; shielding the other girl with her own body. Would it have made more sense to take out the threat first? Yeah. Is her immediate instinct to protect Gray at all costs? Also yeah. ]
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And then Rin is suddenly shoved aside? And now Gray is getting tackled??
She hits the ground with a small oof and tries immediately to sit up and look to Rin. ]
Rin!
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The realization of what she almost did dawns on her, and so Rin deduces quickly that she cannot trust herself around other people. In a flash she turns towards the exit and starts running for it.]
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[ In an instant, she's back on her feet. Another instant, and with mana surging through her legs, she blasts off after Rin like a rocket; ready to tackle her far more roughly than she did Gray... though she'll at least endeavour to be the one breaking the fall this time. ]
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However after a few seconds of realizing there's no injury to be had, Rin starts struggling to be let free.]
Let me go! I clearly can't be around people right now.
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i lied
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