Kuoh.
- "Master," Medusa began, looking at the object in her hand, "Do we really need to be here?"
- "In these beautiful days of calm, I thought I hadn't been giving you both the time of day when things were happening to the rest of you. What kind of Master would I be if I left things as they were and didn't show concern for my Servants, eh?" I waved it off, then pointed to the side, "Besides, Heracles likes everything."
At the moment I, Medusa and Heracles were in the Kuoh Oceanarium, as it turned out, there was one here. There was no one in it now, as enough money would calmly solve this issue. Berserker wore his usual Servant outfit, while Rider wore her casual one, consisting of a purple sweater, glasses that blocked the power of her eyes, and jeans.
While a skeptical Medusa and I were engaged in conversation, Heracles was looking at the artificial bottom of the oceanarium and the various fish. Nostalgia surfaced in his eyes, because the Argonauts spent almost all their time in the sea, where he himself entered, and the smile on his face only confirmed my thoughts. And that's one of the reasons I brought them here.
Two days had passed since the reception at Lucifer's castle. They passed quietly and measuredly, which was perfect for me, as I could just lie on the couch and sip coffee while enjoying Tia's company.
It had somehow slipped my mind that Rea-chan was also at the reception with me, and I came back for her a couple hours after I'd left. Rizevim's appearance simply knocked that out of my head.
Although Rea-chan herself calmly accepted my apology, offering to forget the incident, I still wanted to give her some sort of compensation. She thought about it for a bit and asked me to organize a small training camp for her with her ancestor, which I calmly agreed to. Leviathan didn't speak out against it either, and so everything went as it should.
As for the reception events I avoided, there didn't seem to be any excesses. Rias and Sona handled it without much trouble, with the help of a copy of Mjolnir, of course. I don't know the details, but considering what I saw during my game with the heirs, there was no point in worrying.
The rewards I promised are still in effect. And since Sona is the liaison, all the cases went through her as well. At this point, almost everyone except Sairaorg, Rias, and Sona herself had gotten them.
Seelvaira asked for knowledge about mechs, and got a couple ideas from anime I watched. Zephyrdor wanted to know about possible enhancements to his aura, to which he got advice to watch some human works, i.e. the same anime and manga. Riser, on the other hand, just wanted me to go on a date with Ravel when she was ready, and now I just had to wait for an invitation letter from her. Diadora, on the other hand, hasn't gotten any, of course.
I have a couple guesses as to what the remaining three will want, especially Sairaorg. But until they say so themselves, I'll just wait and see what comes of it. For now, we can get back to what's happening now.
- "And this has nothing to do with you being bored, I suppose?"
- "Do I look like that kind of person?" I asked, pointing a finger at myself and making an incredulous face.
- "Had anyone ever told you otherwise?" She asked, tilting her head to the side as if she really thought that, and I just shrugged, "And why this place? I understand your reasoning about Berserker, but about me..."
- "Yes, I'm well aware that the sight of the oceanarium makes you uncomfortable. And no, you didn't do anything wrong."
- "Then why?" She asked incomprehensively, to which I sighed and turned my head to the glass, behind which I could see the artificial seabed.
- "To talk. I see the way you act. And even though your eyes are closed by the Seal of Gorgon, my eyes are not closed by anything. You're uptight, your social circle is mostly limited to just Archer, Enkidu, Heracles, and Artoria, and most importantly, which is the reason for all of this, you're afraid you'll displease me. Even when you were in a drunken frenzy over Alaya's machinations, fear danced in your eyes. It wasn't the sea that caused it, it was me, wasn't it? That I'd put you back on the Throne, or worse, throw you out to the Greeks here in this world, wasn't it? If you were to misbehave in any way, let's say."
- "What's the point of that?" Medusa asked monotonously, "I'll follow any order you give me, Master."
- "That's exactly the point," I objected instantly, and she rounded her eyes, "My orders are not absolute. I'm not a tyrant and I'm willing to listen to other points of view. You, Archer, Artoria, Merlin, Heracles, and even Alaia, who's always dark, are my... Um... family, I guess. I care about you, and I'm willing to put my back out for you, even if it costs me magic and my life. And seeing a family member fearing another family member is... discomforting to say the least, don't you think?"
She chose to remain silent, but I could clearly see the memories of the Shapeless Isle flashing in her eyes.
- "I'm not lecturing you, no, and we can pretend this conversation never happened, since you know my principles. I'm just asking you to trust me to be more than just 'Servant' and 'Master'," I said calmly, looking her in the eye. "Even if there is a situation where our interests and worldviews diverge, I will accept it. After all, it's your life, your view, your choice. Without the slightest desire to retaliate or shit on you in any way. I'll support you. And not just me, but everyone else."
I sighed and made my way over to Heracles, who was still nostalgically looking out over the waters.
- "Please consider my words, and as I said earlier, I will accept whatever choice you make, whatever it may be."
- "I will think about it." After a few moments, she said.
Medusa doesn't trust me, which is very simple and understandable, as-however-her history is full of shit. People saw her as a monster, and the gods, especially Poseidon, distinguished themselves in a special way. And only Sakura, who saw her as an older sister and had traveled a similarly crappy path, was able to get into her heart and stay there. I have no right to demand trust from her, it can only be earned. And I hope I can do that.
- "Arrrrr." Heracles growled softly as I approached.
- "Thank you," I said, "And maybe you'd be right. I should have picked a different place."
- "Arrrrr?"
- "Why? So, she could remember her life on the island and her sisters. Yes, it's cruel, but the response will be stronger that way."
- "Arrrrr." Heracles shook his head.
- "I know, but through this, the conversation will be firmly planted in her memory."
- "Arr."
- "Perhaps, and I can only hope that she doesn't become even more distant. But if you do nothing, the situation won't change, right?" I asked, to which he acquiesced, "And also, do you really not want to meet any of your own? Hestia wouldn't mind seeing you, and she can keep a secret, I guess."
Heracles shook his head, putting a hand on my shoulder.
Well, maybe it's for the best, who knows?
-0-
Emiya's residence.
We returned in the late afternoon when the Servants were just starting to go home, Emiya and Elaine were preparing dinner, and Le Fei, Rea-chan, Lancelot, and Enkidu were helping them. Tia, Artoria, Mordred and Merlin were in the living room, while Arthur and Morgan were drinking tea at the dining table. Only Gil, Aika, and the Assassins were absent.
Sitting down on my favorite couch, and immediately finding myself in Tia's arms, I closed my eyes and relaxed. Or rather, I tried to, because at that moment, the doorbell rang. Rea-chan went to open the door as usual, and when she came back and I saw who was with her, I jabbed at Tia's stomach, foreshadowing certain problems.
- "What are you doing, Romani-san? Are you not feeling well?" The first guest asked, tilting her head sideways.
- "Don't mind him, Irina, he's just trying to hide from his problems." The second guest condescended.
- "Problems? We're problems?" The latter was worried, shifting her gaze from her companions to me and back again.
- "No, not at all, Lady Gabriel. In Mr. Archaman's mind, a problem can be anything that pops into his sick head. You mustn't take it personally."
- "You're too harsh, Griselda. Apologize to him."
- "I apologize for being such an immature, narcissistic, vain and insane child."
- "A very accurate description." Emiya added.
- "Indeed." Artoria nodded.
- "The nun is right." Morgan joined in.
- "Griselda, stop it!"
- "But I'm telling the truth, aren't I?"
I clucked my tongue and rubbed against Tia as she stroked my head soothingly.
Fuck them. They just don't understand my genius. Uh-huh-uh.
-0-
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