[ 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?
[ Put that way, Mordred has a point... Gray crouches to join them at eye-level, looking to Mordred then Rin. ]
Rin, I understand not wanting to inconvenience anyone, but... Mordred and I have been here for a much longer time. You should try to trust our judgment more.
[ It's some very gentle chiding, but it's still chiding. ]
[What?! SINCE WHEN? She thought Mordred was new with her! Augh, if it's a matter of seniority it's not something she can argue against. So instead she groans and hides her face behind her hands. Fine! Do what you will with her, you devious Saberfaces! She gives up for now. Especially after having been tackled by Mordred, of all people.]
[ Gray decides to just... sit on Rin's other side, close but not quite touching, making this some pseudo shoulder angel and devil scenario. Here she has two thoughts: first that Rin's cute when she's embarrassed, and second that this must be what Mordred meant when she said she likes taming women...?? She looks like she's enjoying herself.
Gray thinks a bit more about what the best course of action is. What would her mentor do...? Dismantle the Mystery surrounding Rin's condition, of course. Gray isn't capable of going that far, but it's still a good direction to take. ]
Rin, could you explain what happened? It looked like your personality changed suddenly...
[Ugh. She just curls up as best she can. Defensively. Like a pill bug.]
It's difficult to say whether it's the changes Aetos made to me, or the increased Discord. Either way I've been having urges to use my magecraft on people. Doesn't matter if it is my own power, or if it's the skills I've gotten from harmonizing.
Huh. [ Mordred offers, helpfully. ] Like I thought, magecraft is no good. Sucks to be you.
[ She watches Gray for a few seconds, making sure nothing's happening yet, and then occupies herself by poking one of Rin's horns. Annoyingly. Like everything else she ever does. ]
If it gets to be too much... hell, even if it's just painful to hold yourself back, go ahead and take it out on me. I doubt you'd be able to get through my armour, anyway.
[Groaning she pinches the bridge of her nose. Is this some kind of fever dream? To be surrounded by them both? To have them both worried over her in their own ways?]
Weren't you both busy with something when I showed up?
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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.
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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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[ 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!
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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.
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[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.
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[ 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?
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Rin, I understand not wanting to inconvenience anyone, but... Mordred and I have been here for a much longer time. You should try to trust our judgment more.
[ It's some very gentle chiding, but it's still chiding. ]
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And don't worry. I'll take real good care of her if anything weird happens again. [ She mimes bonking Rin on the head with her fist. ]
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Gray thinks a bit more about what the best course of action is. What would her mentor do...? Dismantle the Mystery surrounding Rin's condition, of course. Gray isn't capable of going that far, but it's still a good direction to take. ]
Rin, could you explain what happened? It looked like your personality changed suddenly...
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It's difficult to say whether it's the changes Aetos made to me, or the increased Discord. Either way I've been having urges to use my magecraft on people. Doesn't matter if it is my own power, or if it's the skills I've gotten from harmonizing.
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Huh. [ Mordred offers, helpfully. ] Like I thought, magecraft is no good. Sucks to be you.
[ She watches Gray for a few seconds, making sure nothing's happening yet, and then occupies herself by poking one of Rin's horns. Annoyingly. Like everything else she ever does. ]
If it gets to be too much... hell, even if it's just painful to hold yourself back, go ahead and take it out on me. I doubt you'd be able to get through my armour, anyway.
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It felt more like you were spreading Discord than doing magecraft, but even that isn't terribly dangerous.
[ Just unpleasant. ]
Maybe Mordred could be your punchbag. Isn't it better to try to understand what's happening to you?
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Weren't you both busy with something when I showed up?
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[ Sure it's a "fever" dream you're thinking of, Rin? ]
We were talking about you. ... Well, there was some other stuff after that, but it's none of your business. [ She's not going to doxx Gray. ]
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i lied
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