frayedblade-blog

[frayedblade-blog]

@fillenoble

The roasted aroma of dark coffee wafted through the small apartment, amethyst eyes focused on the mug and its slowly swirling contents. Without turning to face her, the archdragon spoke to their master.

“I understand if you have some questions after our encounter with the infected citizens.”

Pausing, they took a drink. Midir liked it strong and sweet; it was just another level to appreciate. 

“It would be better for both of us if you knew exactly what I was capable of.” A small pause. “If you knew exactly what I truly am.”

[frayedblade-blog]

ryuunosenshii:

          Having the power to control the ryuujin spirit means also having a connection to it. It is a powerful and fierce, protective spirit. At times, he senses it stir before being called upon. Genji doesn’t always know the reason why but thinks it can sense certain situations and become eager to act in battle. This presence feels strong, unlike any presence he has felt before. He doesn’t think it has anything to do with being able to sense other servants sometimes, though he’s sure that could be part of the reason. Whatever this power could be, makes the dragon stir. He can feel eyes on him at that moment and realizes without having to look in their direction, he is being followed.

          He doesn’t make it easy for them. What do they want, or are they simply after a fight? He thought sooner rather than later, someone would want to fight him. That seems to be his main purpose in this world. However, he’s not as young and brazen as he once was. Moving like the wind itself, there is little to be seen outside of the telltale glimpse of green light and a slice of silver. Flitting through the crowd at first, and then moving by rooftops. He leads his pursuer in a circle, seeing if he can shake them off. At the same time, he wants to see why they are so persistent. Finally, he hides his presence altogether by going into stealth mode. It’s not just the skill given to his class, but a program on his armor. The lights turn off completely, and he settles into silently blending with the shadows. Crouched low, he stays in the shadows behind the person as they wander down a narrow street.

          For a moment, all is silent. Perhaps the human had been standing alone, after all. They can’t possibly sense any mana or energy attributed to him. They might begin to think he had lost them until they finally speak to the emptiness and the shadows around them. Genji lets them talk, curious to learn what they have to say. This being doesn’t sound malicious, or even deceptive. If he is correct, he can sense nothing more than innocent curiosity. Had they been so persistent just because they saw his armor?

          “You are persistent.”

          After a moment, the cyborg’s lights come to life once more. Bright green radiating out of the darkness, he steps out to crouch on a ledge. “I’m afraid a knight isn’t quite right. Though, their noble duties just might line up with my own at times. A samurai would be closer to a knight; they are sworn to serve a particular lord.” Though, he supposes, he is technically sworn to serve a Master in this scenario. He was raised into a family that trained in the skills of the ninja; performing assassinations and covert operations. He pauses, green visor focused on the other. “Ninja are a bit different. You have a strong energy, are you a servant?”

They almost decided that nothing must be what they addressed. Nothing stirred, no traces of energy or movement. Not even the unnatural, silent stillness like the air was holding its breath. Midir was just ready to turn and leave when a voice broke the alley’s ambience.

It wasn’t until that faint light appeared above that they even had the slightest inkling of where the voice may be coming from. They couldn’t deny it; this one really had been marvellously hidden, the archdragon hadn’t even caught  his scent.

Not a knight, but armoured all the same. Perhaps he was something akin to one of the Lord’s blades.

“I am both of those things.”

“Berserker.” Amethyst eyes were unwavering as the title was delivered calmly. “Fray.” Though they knew, every servant would know there was no such name in the throne of heroes. But words that carried resonance... Ninja, Samurai; Midir knew that in even their impossibly long life they had never head those words, yet hearing them here brought with them a strange form of understanding. Something clicked in their mind.

 “I have not encountered a samurai before, nor a ninja. But;” Midir lifted both of their arms slightly, holding their palms upwards. Something about this entire area of the city seemed to suppress Noble Phantasms in a way, but the power was still there, even if it could not be called upon.  

Faintly at first, a spectral image flickered into the air above their hands, a long obsidian sheath, curved and ornate; the image of the Frayed Blade. Though an image is all it was, Utopia preventing its full manifestation. 

“Something like this, right?”

[frayedblade-blog]

fillenoble:

@frayedblade​ -> @arquemie -> @fillenoble​​

The grand opening has been met with resounding success. Every day, Julian sees new faces wandering inside their halls. There’s the occasional person busying themselves with their Triplicata, sure, but for the most part, he enjoys greeting expressions of awe and wonder. It’s rare that he has a moment to step outside of the storage room, but he always gravitates to the basement when he has a chance.

He’s on his way to the jellyfish tank when he spots an impressionable pink sweater. Could it be? Haru?

“Excuse me–” He’s cut off before he can finish his sentence.

Caught off-guard by the hostile remark, Julian stills in his step. A touch of fear creases his brow while his pupils dilate. He looks to Haru for help. While he’s familiar with her, he has not had the pleasure to meet her, ah, Servant - if had to take a guess. “My apologies,” - he glances back to the stranger - “For startling you. I’m the curator of this museum, Julian Albert, and I happen to be acquainted with Ms. Okumura.”

@frayedblade -> @arquemie -> @fillenoble

It was nice to be somewhere that was familiar, somewhere that Haru could feel at peace. The aquarium was a new addition to Utopia, but it was still grand– so much so that Haru had to wait a bit after the grand opening to go. There would be no enjoyment in wading through bustling crowds. And somehow, she managed to get Midir to join her (not that it was hard, the other insisted on following her most places as her servant). It was a day to relax, let the worries of where she had been taken and the infection and leave them behind. 

Instead they went from tank to tank, Haru mostly spouting a few facts she knew or would read off the signs when she felt the air become awkward (probably only to her). She didn’t mind, however, the silence between her and Midir by the orca tank. She spent equal parts watching them and the whale– it was nice to see that even Midir was awed in some way by the creature. 

Yet Haru had to admit– being able to pet sting rays at the end of the aquarium excited her the most, and she felt almost childish as she hurried toward the shallow pools once they were in sight. Haru felt the creature glide against her fingertips as she went to answer Midir’s question, only for her eyes to catch a familiar face. A smile was on Haru’s lips as she made to wave, but the sudden close presence and serious voice of Midir caused her to startle slightly.

“Oh– don’t worry, it’s okay!” Haru reassured them, a soft smile returning as she looked up to Midir. “This is Mr. Albert, he first found me when I was taken to Utopia and helped me find my bearings.” A small hand gently touched the sleeve of Midir’s coat as she looked back to Julian. “This is–,” Right, not Midir. “Fray.” Not Berserker or Servant either. Those words just didn’t seem right.

@frayedblade​ -> @arquemie​ -> @fillenoble​

“I was not startled.” Though their countenance made it clear, they said it anyway. Midir was unmoving until they felt the light touch of Haru’s hand on their sleeve. Their arms unfolded, but their stance was anything but relaxed. “Have you met his servant?” The archdragon glanced from the girl back to this curator.

He didn’t look like much, not in the archdragon’s eyes. Yet underestimating any master could prove foolish, especially when their servant had yet to be identified.

“So you made this place.”

“Why? What’s your favourite exhibit? Your herbarium lacks archtrees.”

History;

[frayedblade-blog]

vengier:

An exasperated hmph sounded from her lips as she moved a hand to press against her forehead in an almost overly fatigued way. Berserker’s logic was so misguided that it gave her a headache, or it would have if she had not dealt with the mentally inept before.

Lowering her hands, she instead crossed her arms over her bust and aimed a peevish look at Berserker. She almost pitied them. It must be so hard being so ignorant. Giving them another up-down assessment, this time a bit more indepth, she gave an affirmative nod to herself, as if she had just proved herself right.  “Christ, with your clueless attitude you really are fit for the Berserker class.”

As for who they actually were, of that she had no idea. Their words about being destroyed seemed to resonate somewhat. A shift her her weight before she turned her head away. “Geh, don’t look at me like that.”

It was probably foolish of herself to relinquish her advantage, but extending some sort of perceived “good-will” would serve her better in the long run. Besides, if no one had run into that loathsome saintess yet, this would be the perfect time to undermine her authority and usurp her support. “I do not even know who you are, but I will grant you some advice; Whoever wants to destroy you, simply needs to be annihilated first.”  Now they were entering her territory.

What a dramatic individual this woman was, all those movements and huffing; it looked exhausting. Despite her protest, Midir carried on looking at her the exact way they had been the entire time.

“So then, your words were meaningless. Either you don’t know me and that information didn’t hold nearly as much weight as you said. Or it does and you are merely beyond making sense of it. Or, you’re lying. Which is it.”

“Oh no, you have me mistaken; I’m the hunter, not the hunted. Sage words those may be, I am the seeker. I don’t fear annihilation, it is what’s left in my wake.”

[frayedblade-blog]

Prelude I [Utopia]

Time slowly passed since man first awoke in Utopia, the city that supposedly served as humanity’s last refuge. Days melted into weeks. Weeks into months. Some adapted fairly quickly to their new life, while others still struggled to gain their bearings. All the while, a select few of those among the ignorant masses questioned the reason behind their existence. Questions which received little to no answers.

There is a change. A sudden shifting of the air around them. No. Rather than ‘air’, it is the barrier surrounding the city. That which was once invisible could now be perceived, even if only slightly. And what was it that those who took notice of it would see?

It was almost as though it was.. wavering. Or perhaps, crumbling. Slowly, but surely. Mere seconds later, complaints of power outages begin to spread throughout the city.

Something is happening.

[frayedblade-blog]

send one for my muse’s reaction to your muse ---

wolfglaive.

alternatively send ‘ + ‘ after the symbol for the roles to be reversed where possible !

✘ = hugging them . Δ = playing with their hair . ❤ = kissing them . ₪ = asking them out for dinner . ☀ = giving them a gift of ___ ( asker’s choice ) . ♘ = stabbing them . ♕ = bowing down before them . ♒ = lying to them .   ✿ = buying them flowers . ☾ = being found shirtless . ♢ = reading them a story . ☂ = giving them their jumper to keep warm . ✎ = speaking in a different language . ✏ = teaching them a different language . ▄ = telling them a joke . ♬ = singing to them . ☹ = insulting a loved one . ஐ = slapping them . ✂ = threatening them . ❃ = dancing with them . ▤ = falling asleep on them . ☮ = waking them up after a nightmare . ♣ = discovering them crying . 回 = patching a wound . ✮ = stargazing . ▓ = caught stealing their belongings . ☽ = wandering alone at night . ♡ = complimenting them . ≡ = offering a place to stay overnight . ☢ = falling over . ✦ = being well-dressed . ❂ = wiping blood off their face . ◎ = taking care of them while ill . ☁ = being caught in the middle a storm with them . ⇕ = holding their hand . ↱ = being lost with them . ☠ = pushing them against a wall .

[frayedblade-blog]

✌

✌ Tell us about your best victory!

“A victory may not imply the war was won, but at least that the enemy is defeated. When your enemy knows no permanent defeat, can you ever claim a victory? The only thing I ever won was time, and in the end it was not enough.”

“Though there were many battlefields where I was the only one to leave afterwards. One of my greatest battles was against a spirit tree that had become so thoroughly infested that I thought I may have failed then and there. To see even an entity so noble and powerful fall prey to something so parasitic. I cleansed the entire land.”

[frayedblade-blog]

♛

♛ Any enemies or rivals to speak of?

“Only one.”

“The only one I was ever supposed to face. Not a single entity or even a localised event. A twisted, caustic contaminate that blighted with its very existence, a toxic, aberrant force with no place in nature. A disgusting tar that ruins anything it touches beyond redemption, a creeping, spreading, VILE CORRUPTION. THE DARK.”

“CRUSH IT BURN IT DEVOUR IT; THE DARK THE DARK, THE DEEP ABYSS; THE DARK PUS OF MAN”

[frayedblade-blog]

☮ Do you like to fight? Why or why not? // ø Does death of your comrades in arms ever bother you?

☮ Do you like to fight? Why or why not?

“I do not have to like it, it is what I was meant for,  what I was raised for. Fighting is what I did. I was everlasting and my opponent would always return, sooner or later, an opponent that needed to be beaten back no matter the cost.”

“I never considered myself a hero or my purpose noble, it is simply what needed to be done. I never hated exercising my power nor was it something I loved. After time, it is what I became used to. Fighting is inevitable, and I don’t like waiting.”

ø Does death of your comrades in arms ever bother you?

Answered! 

[frayedblade-blog]

✞ // ø

✞ Do you believe in revenge? Exacting it on others? Others coming for you?

“Absolutely.”

“Any that were foolish enough to do me harm or wrong and not utterly destroy me only have themselves to blame when I return. A reminder to finish the job and not be complacent, typically their last. 

And should I ever fail to thoroughly complete my duty it is only fitting they seek me out, it’s happened before. They did not come back a second time.”

ø Does death of your comrades in arms ever bother you?

“Since my first battle I fought alone, that is how it would always be.”

“Not only is my ‘fighting style’ indiscriminate, but my recurrent foe was toxic to all life; I was the only one suitable to combat it.” A long exhale, a short cloud of smoke. “Not that many others didn’t try. Knights, warriors, mages and the faithful, at first their willingness to rail against the corruption was inspiring, in it’s own way. Yet this was a foe they could not match, time and time again I arrived only to see them defeated. Eventually I realised it did not matter, win or lose their fate was sealed merely by being present.”

[frayedblade-blog]

Asks for the warriors among us!

☮ Do you like to fight? Why or why not?

✈ Do you prefer fighting in the air or on ground? The sea?

☠ What kind of death do you expect on the battlefield?

☯ Have you ever fought a war for your country?

✌ Tell us about your best victory!

✖ Tell us about your worst defeat!

☢ Do you have any magical/super/mutant/etc. powers?

☤ How decent of a healer are you? Can you heal on the fly?

♫ Tell us your battle theme!

★ Did you have a mentor or an idol you looked up while training to become a great warrior?

✞ Do you believe in revenge? Exacting it on others? Others coming for you?

♛ Any enemies or rivals to speak of?

◔ What kind of fighting style do you have?

☭ Your favourite kind of weapon?

☫ Do you like to play with your opponents or finish them off neatly and quickly?

ø Does death of your comrades in arms ever bother you?

♠ Do you remember your first kill?

[frayedblade-blog]

Anubis: How do you feel about death? // Arawn: What is the most terrifying thing you've ever done?

Anubis: How do you feel about death?

“Differently than most, I would imagine. But that’s hard to say, isn’t it.”

“Without giving too much away I am neither alive nor dead; my body is everlasting stone. Only when we are utterly obliterated do we cease, yet that is not death as we were never alive in the first place. Death was a fascinating concept when I first learned of it, it was difficult to comprehend; I could not understand how something could simply stop while its body was right there. Yet now I’ve seen all too much of it, and it seems to come all too fast. 

It always seemed to come too soon for those that deserved it least, I find life much more fascinating now.”

Arawn: What is the most terrifying thing you've ever done?

“The most terrifying thing I’ve ever done is probably the thing I’ve done most.”

“Taking life might seem less than terrifying to some- maybe even most here- especially when done to save another. Yet how many deaths does that justification excuse? Any number as long as it’s less than you save? What if what you’re saving is only the prospect of a future? 

I wouldn’t hesitate to do it all again, and I think that’s perhaps what terrifies me most. I burned entire civilisations to the ground, leaving not a single trace of all the life that existed before, and I did it without hesitance or regret to stop the growth of a cancer. I’ve done it so many times I lost count.”

[frayedblade-blog]

εїз How does your muse feel about bugs and insects? // ✝ Is your muse religious?

εїзHow does your muse feel about bugs and insects?

Answered!

✝ Is your muse religious?

“Religious...”

“Where I was from, belief in the gods was not particularly a choice, at least not for me; for I grew up in their city, raised by them. For a long time they were simply a matter of life, living, breathing gods. Yet like all life, they too faded over time.

I had no reason not to have faith in them, but is it really faith when they stand before you? If I did not believe in them I would not have carried out their task even long after they had gone.”

[frayedblade-blog]

☘, ❀, εїз

☘ : Does your muse believe in luck? How about fate?

“I think luck is one of those things that exists regardless of whether or not you believe in it. It is usually people that mark happenstance or chance as either lucky or unlucky, yet the two are generally the same. Fate, on the other hand...”

“Fate is inexorable, I have seen it time and time again. What is destined to happen, will happen. I have seen incredibly desperate measures taken in an attempt to fight fate and not only is it foolish, it is sinful.”

❀ : What is your muse’s opinion about flower crowns?

“Crowns are supposed to last”

εїз : How does your muse feel about bugs and insects?

“They are life and thus interesting in their own right. They appear more simple than most creatures, but I find their almost mechanical nature to be quite relaxing. They know no fear and operate entirely off instinct yet what some of them are capable of is quite inspiring.”

“Also they look armoured and I enjoy that.”

[frayedblade-blog]

God/Goddess Asks!

Anubis: How do you feel about death?

Atum: What are your greatest imperfections?

Bastet: Do you have any cats?

Hathor: What brings you joy?

Horus: What is one thing you've had to fight for in your life?

Osiris: Do you believe in the underworld?

Ra: Do you have any major responsibilities or importance?

Thoth: Do you like to read/write?

Arawn: What is the most terrifying thing you've ever done?

Bran: How is your health?

Brighid: Tell us about your relationship with your father.

Cernunnos: What is your favorite animal?

Danu: What is your relationship with your mother?

Morrigan: What do you think happens when we die?

Olwen: What is your favorite flower?

Rhiannon: Have you ever been betrayed?

Bragi: What kind of music do you listen to?

Freya: Have you ever been in love?

Freyr: Do you have any children?

Hœnir: Are you a silent or talkative person?

Iounn: How old are you?

Loki: What is the best trick you've ever pulled on someone?

Odin: What is your family like?

Thor: Would you consider yourself pretty powerful?

Tree: What have you done with your life? What are you going to do with it?

Aphrodite: What do you think of yourself?

Ares: Are you an easy person to anger?

Athena: Would you consider yourself an artist?

Apollo: Do you play any instruments?

Dionysus: Do you drink?

Hades: Do you have a bad reputation?

Hekate: Have you ever tried to communicate with the dead?

Hermes: Have you ever stolen anything?

Poseidon: Are you a moody person?

Zeus: Are you a confident person?

Jupiter: Would people say that you are intimidating or fairly approachable?

Pluto: Where do you think we go when we die?

Apollo & Dianna: Do you prefer to be up during the day or at night?

Mars: Have you ever gotten into a fight?

Minerva: Do you generally give good advice?

Proserpine: Have you ever felt trapped?

Plutus: Do you have a job?

Venus: Have you ever had your heart broken?

Vesta: Do you like being home or do you try to get out whenever you can?

Morpheus: Do you daydream often? Of what?

[frayedblade-blog]

History;

frayedblade -> @arquemie -> @fillenoble

Historical annals, all cities seemed to have one and even this was no different. Their master had insisted they go together and seeing as some semblance of order had been regained, they didn’t have a particularly good reason to refuse. Spirit form had been removed from the table too.

So they wandered around this museum, Haru directing them straight to the aquarium. Marine life was fascinating, in its own way. Midir had never really had involvement with the sea, or even particularly large bodies of water. Their enemy had always been on land, and being made of stone wasn’t the most conducive to swimming. 

They recalled staring at the sharks, something eerily reminiscent about their primal, prehistoric appearance. By an large the most impressive living specimen was the orca, Midir lingered by that tank the longest. Largely silent, they let their master do most of the talking and explaining as this was in both senses, out of their depth. 

Eventually they came to the end of the exhibit where multiple pools were gathered, their purpose to interact with the marine life. 

“Are these the ones you mentioned.” A rough, grey hand dipped slowly into the water, gliding gently across the surface of one of these flat, ray creatures. It too was rough, pleasant in a way. “Do they get much bigger than this?”

Turning towards Haru, they noticed her eyes had met with another. A young man who’s face brightened as he saw them. Waving himself, he started to walk over. Midir looked from their master to this individual, sensing mana in the air and that same strange flow. Another master; was their servant close? It was more unsettling that they couldn’t immediately tell. Midir stepped forward as the other drew close.

“That’s close enough.” Amethyst eyes were hard and unwavering

“You are a Master. Who are you? What do you want? 

[frayedblade-blog]

fillenoble:

Haru let out a soft sigh as she looked around the warehouse. It was an immediate agreement once the shards were brought up that her and Midir would help collect them– though she had the feeling they both were doing it for different reasons. Haru hoped that with gathering the shards she might be granted some sort of knowledge as to why she was put in Utopia, or perhaps would be offered a way home… Even though a lot of hurdles were passed, there was still so much she had to do. As Midir landed next to Haru, she took a startled step back– that always got her. They were so agile. 

“Thank you.” She offered a soft smile to the other, opening the small cinched bag and allowing the fragment to sit along with several others. She pulled the small drawstrings closed, and kept it safely in the pocket of her pink sweater. They would gather a few more, perhaps, before heading to the center of the city and depositing them as instructed.

As soon as she looked up, Haru’s eyes widened in fear. Things had been going to well– it was only a matter of time before the infected would have caught up with them. Her heart still raced, the teen taking a small step back as she swallowed thickly. The whole thing reminded her of scenes in zombie movies, ones she normally adored. Now she felt the fear that the characters always had.

“T-these are still innocent people, we can’t hurt them. A-and there are too many…!” She gasped, hand immediately reaching out to grasp Midir’s coat sleeve. “We have to run!”

Their number was of no concern. Slightly empowered perhaps, but they were still people. Unarmed people at that. It was Haru’s will they remain unharmed and as long as they did not pose a threat to her life Midir would abide it. Running was the safest option for everyone. 

Haru’s hand on their sleeve suppressed the thought of how easy it would be to barrel through them, the archdragon quickly scanned the area. Deciding on a route, their mouth opened and a bright jet of fire licked the ground between them and the infected. A small flame, only enough to briefly block their escape.

“This way.”

Taking Haru’s hand they ducked between some crates on a narrow path filled with turns. Midir tried to block out their heavy breathing and rapid footsteps, the sound of crowd feverish with corruption-

No. They shook their head briefly just as the two opened up into a slightly wider space. Midir grabbed the one of the large iron crates beside the route they came and with a small amount of effort dragged it across, blocking the way.

“If any get close, let me know straight away.”

Approaching what looked like a large, heavy shutter in the wall the archdragon crouched down. Their grey hands becoming almost more stone-like as they took hold of the iron. It didn’t move immediately; metal groaning as bolts attempted to keep it sealed. A small cloud of smoke escaped their nostrils before they started to rise, bolts pinging free on one side while the metal shrieked and teared on the other.

“After you.”

Fight or Flight;