[ 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.
Oh, please. You think you're a threat to me? Just how freakin' big is that head of yours?
[ It's patronizing and reassuring in equal measure, as Mordred's attempts at kindness usually are. As if to prove her point, she holds onto Rin with barely any effort as the other girl struggles in her grip; a far cry from the first time they'd tousled. ]
You won't get any better on your own, so suck it up and accept our help! Don't be so needlessly prideful!
[ Rin wouldn't be a mage if she weren't needlessly prideful. On the same note, it's almost comical hearing that kind of reproach coming from Mordred. But this is no time to kick up an argument, so Gray tries to smooth things over by addressing Rin again as she comes to a stop in front of them. ]
I'm sorry. I might have pushed things too quickly.
[ The turbo h*nd-h*ld sandwich... ]
I'm okay, so let's try slowing things down... please.
...So what? You just expect to squeeze it out of me? You saw what I almost did.
[What do they even expect? Can she even dispel Discord the normal way anymore? She's unsure, but now she's surrounded by two people with King Arthur's face, and she's basically being squished by one of them! Ridiculous.]
[ Mordred loosens her hold, but she's still prepared to lunge if Rin tries to take off again. She looks up at Gray... and then breaks out into a grin that Rin can't see, keeping her tone annoyed-sounding so as to not tip the other girl off. ]
Hear that, mouse? She's saying you can't handle a few measly discord problems. Are you really gonna let her insult you like that?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
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?
no subject
[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.]
no subject
[ 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.
no subject
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?
no subject
A-ah, yes. They had said they wanted sturdier shards to work on. I wasn't the only one there.
no subject
Careful, I think Red's coming down with something. You'd better hold on a little tighter in case she faints.
no subject
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?
no subject
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.]
no subject
Don't know him. [ More petulantly: ] Are either of you even listening to me?
[ pay attention to heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeer ]
no subject
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.) ]
no subject
You know him, Gray?
no subject
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.
no subject
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
no subject
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.]
no subject
[ 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. ]
no subject
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!
no subject
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.]
no subject
[ 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. ]
no subject
no subject
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.
no subject
[ It's patronizing and reassuring in equal measure, as Mordred's attempts at kindness usually are. As if to prove her point, she holds onto Rin with barely any effort as the other girl struggles in her grip; a far cry from the first time they'd tousled. ]
You won't get any better on your own, so suck it up and accept our help! Don't be so needlessly prideful!
no subject
I'm sorry. I might have pushed things too quickly.
[ The turbo h*nd-h*ld sandwich... ]
I'm okay, so let's try slowing things down... please.
no subject
[What do they even expect? Can she even dispel Discord the normal way anymore? She's unsure, but now she's surrounded by two people with King Arthur's face, and she's basically being squished by one of them! Ridiculous.]
At least let me sit up.
no subject
[ Mordred loosens her hold, but she's still prepared to lunge if Rin tries to take off again. She looks up at Gray... and then breaks out into a grin that Rin can't see, keeping her tone annoyed-sounding so as to not tip the other girl off. ]
Hear that, mouse? She's saying you can't handle a few measly discord problems. Are you really gonna let her insult you like that?
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
i lied
(no subject)
(no subject)