[Open & Closed in Tags]

[lahaine]

Who: Jeanne d’Arc Alter (lahaine) & You?
What: Event catch-all
When: Shortly after the explosion & announcement
Where: Various; home and streets
Warning(s): Violence and gore+, other than that, typical edgelord brooding...



I.
[ The scent in the air could only be described as nauseating to most. Flames licking away at flesh, consuming the remains of what were once human until they were nothing more than piles of ash, carried away by the wind. Violent flares of colors, red, orange, yellow, violet rose and fell as they washed over their prey. The crackling roar of the inferno mixing with the terrified screams of the now damned created a symphony so terrifying and depressing, it would drive most mad.

Yet there, standing almost gleefully amongst the carnage was a woman shrouded in black. There was an odd way that the flames refrained from encroaching on her person, keeping a careful distance as she made her way through the charred ruins. Almost admiring the work.

Her luck had never been her highest attribute, and with that said all she could do now, was examine what was left to examine. Exasperated, she would lazily kick around some of the smoldering debris with her foot, rattle some litter with her sword or cease the burning of some flames with her own control over fire. There seemed to be nothing of note here and it was questionable if those she had just sentenced to death were really all that deserving. As in, were they really once associates of this mysterious “Shady Man?”

A soft noise, a shuffle, alerts her to the presence of another. Gold eyes flashed dangerously. ] You should be worried, I am not sure how much patience I have.

II.
[ This was sort of impromptu so feel free to plot with me on plurk heles or something! ]

Comments

[lahaine]

[ She was getting the wrong idea. Eyes averted as she hmphed slightly, glowering like an angry child at Rin. ] I am not throwing myself a pity-party... [ A pause as she regarded Rin cooly. ] Then again... you of all people would know what that's like, wouldn't you? [ Low blow from Jeanne, but it had always been known that she did not play fair. Plus she seemed to get a bit more vicious when cornered and faced with the real possibility of disappearing. ]

A Master without a Servant, that is. Not that you had much to choose from in the first place. [ She thought of the other choice. Archer, wherever he had run off to. ]

So, just here to gloat then? I don't need your pity, or you to look down on me - honestly this is probably for the best, you know. The best thing for Avengers like me are to be put down immediately. We are an existence powered by nothing but hate until we lose ourselves or our bodies give out. Christ, this is just some sort of sick idea of mercy anyway. [ turning away from Rin she stared silently at the ground, brows furrowed. Even through her words, you could tell she was scared. She had no desire to vanish... ]

[jewelling]

[ Yeah, low blow indeed!? Her body immediately stiffens up, as a result of Jeanne’s backlash. What on earth was she referring too? No, Rin knew exactly where the servant was aiming at. She was so certain she kept her feelings on a certain subject on lockdown, but then again, she was Kirei’s servant, and Rin had no doubt that the priest whispered a thing or two in her ear. How utterly annoying. ]

I may be a servant-less master, but I can strive on my own without one. Quit easily. You, on the other hand, don’t have that luxury. [ Harsh, but Rin is stating the obvious. Acquiring a servant without a grail would gain her nothing, and in this world, most could easily compare them to parasites due to the fact they require mana from another to survive. (Did I just compare the El Nysa servants to parasites? Yes. Yes, I did). Oh course, Rin… wouldn’t see Archer, and now Avenger as such.

Especially now that Jeanne Alter’s words have taken a grim turn. The servant claims she’s not speaking out of pity, but her body language spoke to her differently. Rin takes a step closer to the spirit and glares down at her sitting form. Her expression is firm, cold even. ]

Then we have no other choice. As a magus, I have a duty to uphold, and it’s quite clear you know your role as an unorthodox servant. Form a contract with me, and I’ll use a command seal to rid you of your existence.

[ She sighs at the thought, but she continues ]

The command seal was created for that purpose alone, so it's only fitting.

[lahaine]

[ Rin was right. While a Magus did not need a Servant to survive, the Servant did need a Magus. It wasn't exactly a perfect symbiotic relationship. Eyes darted to Rin as she gritted her teeth.

To think she had been teasing Archer for this very reason, only to find herself in such a predicament now. Funny how fate worked.

As Rin drew closer, Jeanne seemed to withdraw a bit, still clinging to what bit of pride and individuality she did have left. This was difficult, to admit that she needed Rin. Yet her desire to exist and at full capacity seemed to outweigh her pride still. She was curious about the prospect. ] You? You are going to be my Master?

[ She almost looked bewildered at the fact. There wasn't anything extraordinary about Rin, she seemed perfectly...well...average. Than again, so did the Master that saved the world in her home timeline, and he and Rin seemed to share a striking similarity. She looked away at the thought. ] Tell me, what worthy things have you ever done? Why would I bother answering your summons?

[ Was now really the time to be picky about this? Jeanne Alter really needed to take the time to learn when to pick her battles... ]

[jewelling]

For a short while, yes, you’ll be free to consider me as one.

[ Red flag, red flag, red flag! Sorry to say Jeanne, but Rin is notably good at pinpointing hidden details, especially when it's laid out right in front of her. There’s a few mental notes to make here. First, the fact that Jeanne right away ignores Rin’s offer to take on the role as the servant’s maker. For someone who’s so fixated on what death had to offer her, she’s quick to avoid it. Second, she’s lashing to redirect someone from noticing their vulnerability, something that Rin is far too familiar with. Basically, you can’t tsun a tsun. Third, she’s avoiding eye contact, a novice mistake. ]

I’m not interested in laying out my resume to a servant I’m planning on keeping for all of two or so minutes.

[ Rin could use this time to impress the servant with her heritage and other achievements, but she’s aching all over, and she’s simply… not in the mood. What she will do, is continued to press the subject of absolute death on the servant. Consider this a test or some sort. That and, Rin is just curious to see where this will go because, wow, she’s a difficult chickipoo. ]

My patience is thinning, and I have other engagements.

[ Like, lay in bed and whine for the next few days. ]

What will your answer be, Avenger?

[lahaine]

[ She would not call Rin a Master, but that did not change the fact that she needed Rin right now. Dangerous eyes would snap back to the Magus, ready for some sort of verbal backlash, but instead she was posed with a question.

A choice. One that she could make of her free will, though it directly correlated to her survival.

A thick silence seemed to fill the air around them, as Jeanne stared at Rin, as if processing the option. With Kirei they had dueled, coming to terms via a clash of weapons and reason. This was an alliance of necessity. Closing her eyes, she would begin to chuckle, which turned into her usual obscene laughter before giving her answer. ] Ahahahaha! Fine. I am not fighting to die, and so I will answer your summons.

[ Standing, she would turn to face Rin. Even if they were already here and had already met, she seemed to be making this as authentic as possible. Maybe it was just her pride - so that she could say she so graciously answered Rin's summons later. ]

[jewelling]

[ Whether or not Jeanne would see Rin as a master made little to no difference to her, which is why she chose her words carefully on the subject. Perhaps, she was foreshadowing the next strings of events? Who knows. Rin remains there, waiting in silence as the spirit debated over her options. Would she accept the magus’s kind offer or would she wait for her body to collapse and slowly dissolve until she’s hanging on by a thread?

The servant raised to her feet, which prompts Rin to straighten her form up. Her laughter reaches her ears, and for the first time, Rin couldn’t help but grin a bit at that hyena crackling. For once, they finally agreed on something. She takes a few small steps back, closes her eyes and inhales softly. In these few seconds, her mind wanders back to that night she prepped for her first summoning. Butterflies fluttered around in her stomachs. Still. ]

Heed my words [ Her eyes open and she lifts a single hand up between Jeanne and herself. ]

My will creates your body, and your sword creates my destiny.
If you heed my call and obey my will and reason…

[ A sudden burst of red aura emerges from her body, illuminating the room around them for a mere few seconds. ]

Then answer me, Jeanne D’arc!
Do so and I will entrust my destiny to your sword!

[ Three familiar command seals begin to root themselves under the skin of her hand, a sure sign that the servant’s will is there. Rin rolled gacha, and the SSR is certain. All Jeanne have to do is vocally accept her role. ]

[lahaine]

[ There was a small exhale as she she closed her eyes, and reopened them with some sort of renewed vigor. The voice of Rin sounded oddly forward, commanding even - it reminded Jeanne Alter of why she had even an iota of respect for the magus.

A flash crimson around them, fluttering Avenger's cloak as it settled, and Jeanne locked eyes with Rin.

Then answer me, Jeanne D’arc!
Do so and I will entrust my destiny to your sword!

There was no going back now, her will to live vastly outweighed any sort of foolish pride she might have had. Squaring her shoulders, she met Rin's inquiry with an answer devoid of mockery or sarcasm. ] I accept.

[ Silent fell between the two as her eyes moved from Rin's face to the pesky command seals that had appeared on Rin's hand, there was a brief lurch in her stomach when she thought about them, but they couldn't be any worse than what that garbage priest could have used his for... ]

[jewelling]

[ Jeanne’s words sealed the contract, forcing their fate to become intertwined with one another. A contract between master and servant had been formed, and there was nothing else to do but soak up the silence that took over. Jeanne’s eyes shift from the magus’s face to her hand where three visible command seals were implemented. There’s a tightness in her chest; she knew the exact thoughts the servant were currently conflicted with.

As Rin stated, the command seals were a simple tool used to control a heroic spirit’s will and bend them to their liking to obtain a grail that granted miracles. If those seals were present, the servant had no choice but to obey and primarily act as a tool until a master considered them disposable. It’s a cruel fate, and after partaking in a Holy Grail War with a partner who she deemed to be sensational, Rin couldn’t see herself holding on them as some reminder, so they were invaluable to her.

So, what would one do once they considered something to be disposable? Get rid of it. ]

That went smoothly than what I imagined. I appreciate you accommodating to my wishes–who knew you had it in you. [ Before the servant could even hum a sour tune, once again Rin focuses her attention to her seals, her eyes narrow slightly and her fist curls up into a tight fist. ]

Beginning… [ Her voice is faint, mumbling in a foreign language that Jeanne may or may not recognize. She brings her hand up to her chest. ] Contract… a new nail, a new law. As long as you serve as my servant, I hereby command that you have absolute freedom. Our contract will purely be bind by the mana we share.

[ Whether she states it once or three times, another burst of crimson lights fills the room. Jeanne will realize that she has no sudden urge to drive her unholy sword in her chest nor have any other thoughts catering to such a wish. Rin’s spell markings, however, start to diminish until they were barely visible. ]

There... [ Don’t… expect Rin to add any commentary or even an explanation of what had just occurred because she’s too busy awkwardly rubbing the back of her hand and controlling burning cheeks from revealing too much. She’ll remain there for several moments before stomping her feet about and throwing herself in the direction of her room... to gather up her possessions. ]

[lahaine]

[ It was done. The feeling of emptiness that wasn't exclusive to Avengers, but to Masterless Servants, was now filled by the contracted magus. Rin Tohsaka. It was an odd feeling, as if she had known her for a much longer time. Memories, thoughts, even emotions to an extent, could be keenly experienced between the two of them. It was almost intimate in a way that made Jeanne Alter all the more uncomfortable. This feeling was amplified by the feeling that Rin seemed to feel similarly. Both seemed to avoid eachother's gaze.

Contract… a new nail, a new law. As long as you serve as my servant, I hereby command that you-- ]

Geh! Are you serious--?! [ Not five seconds and this girl was going to use a command seal!? However, the demand was not at all what Jeanne was anticipating.

The scarlet light blinded the two, engulfing them in color before subsiding, and leaving only a ghost of the command seals etched on the magus' hand. It took a bit for the shock to register on Jeanne's face. When it finally did, her lips parted, and her furrowed brow seemed to instantly match her confused tone. ]

Are you insane!? What did you just do?! What the hell would make you think that was a good idea?! [ It was so nice, Jeanne literally could not express her mixed feelings. So she decided to insult and question it instead. Huffing and crossing her arms over her bust she would try and brush off this grand gesture. Making a silent affirmation that she would still aid Rin as a proper Servant should. ]

D-Don't think I am going to thank you or anything! This was your choice. Hey, where are you going!? [ Rin had already left Jeanne to yell after her. ]