meltryllis.

[oathic]

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[oathic]

[ara, desperately swerving from explaining fate]

... Having any wish granted is an incentive many would fight for, it's true. So you're one of those spirits, or...?

[sadiskick]

[ yea

Meltryllis laughs, something not quite bittersweet. ]

I am now. I wasn't before.

[ ... ]

If you're after my life tonight, why do you want to know about me?

[ There's no use pretending anymore, she figures. ]

[oathic]

[he scratches the back of his neck.]

Is wanting to get to know someone so unusual?

[sadiskick]

Yes.

[ It's something she understands only in specific circumstances. She smiles at him, an almost lazy stretch of her lips. ]

If it's not, why don't you tell me about yourself?

[oathic]

... Why not? [he smiles.] My real name's Agni, for one. Babo Kim's just an alias I usually use when passing as a human.

[sadiskick]

[ Oh. This is almost funny. If it weren't for where they were and why, she'd be entirely amused.

Meltryllis grins. ]

The god of fire, in the flesh? Should I feel honored?

[oathic]

[he blinks.]

I'm surprised you know the name. [she's certainly not from his universe, after all.] But even if I thought you should, you wouldn't, right?

[so, probably for the better that agni hardly cares about being held in esteem.]

[sadiskick]

Even if you aren't a god from my world, there is a god with your name.

[ Funny how the streams cross. ]

It's usually suicide to reveal this, but one of us is going to die tonight.

[ For some Servants, they think it's honorable to reveal True Names, if the other does. She doesn't really care for that, but tonight isn't about choices.

After all, if she had a choice, it wouldn't be him. It wouldn't have been Nia. And... it wouldn't have even been Asch, if it weren't for a different monster's urges. If she had a choice, she'd remain herself. ]

I was created with the essence of three different goddesses: Artermis, Sarasvati, and the Leviathan.

[ He should be honored she revealed that she's going to turn into a knock off version of what she's made of. ]

[oathic]

[... he feels a little bad because that was clearly supposed to be a dramatic reveal, but none of those names mean anything to him.]

Oh. Cool. You weren't kidding when you said you were powerful, huh?

[sadiskick]

[ He should feel bad not at all. If there's no recognition, then it's the same as not revealing, and she's also fine with that.

She sighs, and a conflicted emotion crosses her face. ]

... I won't die easily either way.

[ Even if she doesn't want to live like this, her instinct is always to fight. ]

[oathic]

... I wasn't expecting you to.

[tick tock, tick tock. is there a clock in the room? who knows, because we don't even know which room they're locked in now, but either way, agni keeps track of the passing time in the back of his mind.]

To be honest, I'd rather talk this out than fight... but I guess negotiating's off the table?

[sadiskick]

[ If there's a free room with a clock in it, we're going for it. The reminder of time makes her smile bittersweet. ]

If this could be solved by talking, I would have done that days ago. I'd rather so many other things happen now, but we can't all have what we want.

[ She sighs, and there's a small pang in her heart. ]

Why don't you tell me about why you want to pass as a human in whatever we time we have left before you make an attempt on my life?

[ That's about as much negotiating she has left in her. Usually, she'd be the type to go for the kill and make the first move, as aggressive as she is, but something is holding her back. ]

[oathic]

[he doesn't entirely know why she's letting him delay this either. then again, it benefits her, he supposes.]

Well, habit, partly. After the Cataclysm, we were forbidden from revealing ourselves to the populace again... though I went ahead and broke that rule, so I guess it doesn't matter.

[agni isn't great at following the rules, for better or for worse.]

But it makes things simpler, you know? Humans can get kind of weird about it, like I'm going to throw them into Hell if they disrespect me or whatever.

[sadiskick]

[ Perhaps she's feeling existentially tired because she's tied to a 14 year old who perpetually feels that way. Perhaps it's the effect of being tied to people who do feel sleepy. But in the end, she wants to be cool-headed even if her heart isn't.

She smiles slightly. Breaking rules... changing rules... it's something she can relate to. ]

Humans are stupid that way. Why would gods attack them for every little thing?

[ In the scope of things, it wouldn't be worth it. ]

[oathic]

Well, most only know us through rumours... so it's easy to be intimidated by what you don't know well, especially if there's a power gap. I've got the reputation as quite a cold-hearted and merciless god, you know.

[as he chills here, chatting with his target...

though perhaps the fact that he's here to kill her at all makes it not so implausible.]

[sadiskick]

[ Intimidated by what you don't know...

That could be true for anyone even if not everyone will admit it. That includes herself, which she also won't admit. ]

For what reason are you here? Is it out of mercy? Duty? Arrogance?

[oathic]

Well... a little of all of the above, I guess?

[sadiskick]

[ She's not sure if she's annoyed by this or not. No, she is a little annoyed by it. ]

She opens her mouth and then closes it. ]

... There are a few things I wish I could say but can't. [ She sighs. ] Is there anything more you want to ask me before we do this?

[ She can feel her time winding down. Why is it always time that's against her? ]

[oathic]

[for agni, there has never been a "why" that could please anyone, for any of his actions. though, perhaps his easy acceptance of this reality is why the others see him as a god without pride.

it's as he told peach. even if the people here condemn him for what he's about to do, it doesn't matter. he's not trying to be a hero.]

Hm... Well, lots of things, really.

[for just a moment, something sad flashes in his eyes, before with one hand, he abruptly swings his sword at her.]

—But I probably shouldn't delay this any further.

[sadiskick]

[ She laughs because at least now, she can fight as herself and not as a monster that isn't quite her. She flips backwards to dodge him, her leg catching on his blade.. ]

Let's enjoy this, for these last few minutes.

[ She spins and kicks a leg in an arabaesque straight at his face. ]

[oathic]

Well, if that's what you want—whoa!

[it's not as if agni doesn't enjoy fighting, at least. he jumps back to dodge the kick, before lunging forward again for another slash.]

—Hey, wait, the scuff marks on your legs...

[thinking about it now, are they what he thinks they are...]

[sadiskick]

[ She opens her mouth, as if to answer, and a flash of irritation crosses her face. She's tired of not being able to say anything.

That may be answer enough, as she parries his slash with her other leg. ]

There are many things I want, Agni. [ They touched on it briefly. ] Could we have tolerated each other in different circumstances?

[oathic]

[... so that's a yes, then.

i hate that because this is a death log, i have to pretend to actually be good at writing fight scenes. anyhow, fighting is a little awkward as his instinct is constantly to use his powers—which he doesn't have. so, all he can do is slash again.

not yet. give it—her—a bit more time.]

Maybe. You were pretty endearing when you were gushing about figurines!

[sadiskick]

[ Meltryllis' powers are integrated with her fighting style, so while she's used to moving at much greater speeds, the movements itself are as graceful as ever. I suck at writing fight scenes, too, so I just make vague descriptions like pretend some leg action happens here ANYWAY

At that, she looks affronted. ]

It's not gushing! It's extolling their virtues!

[oathic]

[then presumably there is a lot of slashing & leg action because he's not going to kill this moment just yet by doing the mean thing.]

Heh! Sure sounds like the same thing to me!