One small spanner in the works can change nothing and yet everything at the same time.
The world you live in is a lot like the normal one. History progresses more or less as it should. Technology flourishes. Empires build upwards, then crumble and fall. The only difference? Somehow, along the way, society has stratified into three categories:
- Normal: The regular folks. Nothing more, nothing less.
- Fighters, Berserkers, or Servants: The nomenclature depends on who you ask, but the fact reminds that these people have incredible powers, the nature of which varies yet can range from psychic abilities to resilience to super strength. However, the downside is that, without a "master" (we'll get to that later) as a partner, they can feel listless and not even have control of their powers. Their drive, whether they accept it or not, is to find the true master that will calm them and help them sharpen their abilities - and there is only one, true match. No substitutes accepted, and the longer they hold off on finding their master, the looser their grip becomes. In some parts of society, fighters are considered second class citizens, but this isn't a usual situation.
- Masters: Think of these folks as focusing lens. They usually have no special powers, but they can hone the abilities of their "servant" to a T. There are a few benefits, including having someone willing to protect...and sometimes, care...for you at all costs. However, the primary benefit is that unpaired masters are often killed off by rogue fighters or forced into bonds that don't work by half-insane ones.
Once a master/fighter pair is made, there have been reports of psychic connections and fighters being strengthened by the mere presence of their master, which means pairs ofter live together. This is helpful, because despite the fact that you would think pairs would want to peacefully coexist, there's been strife since, well, before anyone can remember. Other pairs will feel a desire to defend their territory and status, and even non-violent pairs will find themselves attacked. There's
One more important thing to note: it's not generally accepted for fighters and masters to be romantically involved. In fact, it's frowned upon. But, given the close living quarters, expectations, bonds, and the fact that no one will be as close or as understanding - ah, it's best to say there's more of a "don't ask, don't tell" policy. Yet as a fighter or a master, you won't fall for your partner...
...will you?
HOW TO PLAY
- Comment with your character, preferences, and their role (fighter, master, normal). Feel free to include as much information as you'd like.
- Reply to others.
- RNG to get your prompt!
PROMPTS
- Discovery: You've just found out your status as fighter or master. How do you respond?
- First Sight: Oh, who is that? Whoever it is, your heart is already racing and your instincts are kicking in.
- Trying It Out: It's a trial period for your fighter/master pairing, and you must get into sync.
- Bond: You've decided that this is the forever relationship you want and are prepared for the ceremony, which is, essentially, a blood oath.
- Not Right: Because of societal pressure or just by being unbonded at the wrong time, you've been forced into a partnership that doesn't work. Aside from being miserable, it could also be dangerous, as the fighter's powers could go haywire.
- Unhealthy: In this relationship, the fighter is viewed by the master as their property. Or, in the inverse, the master is viewed as weak and resented.
- Adoration: Unlike the unhealthy relationship, in this bond, the fighter puts the master above all else and quite nearly worships them.
- Save: You want to take away a fighter or a master because you care for them and their partner isn't treating them well. That's noble...but is it such a good idea?
- Doting: Some fighters or masters feel the urge to take care of their partner's needs, especially when they forget to take care of themselves.
- Fluff: There are actually fun, loving moments between the well-adjusted fighter and master, even in the most volatile of scenarios.
- Calm: It's a rare time of peace where the partners can be almost domestic.
- Heal: Injuries and mental hurts need to be taken care of, simultaneously strengthening the bond.
- Assigned: The pairing of you and your fighter or master was not natural. You were picked strategically for each other.
- Power Up: You have to become stronger. Luckily, you can get power and focus right from the tap.
- Need: You're desperate for your fighter or master, and your body and mind are rebelling against you because of it.
- Training: A fighter and master must work as one, and this ability must be practiced.
- Sense: Your master is in trouble, you can just feel it.
- Return: You two have been kept apart and are finally able to return to each others' presence.
- Pose: Actually, you're the opposite of what you're pretending to be - ie, a fighter is really a master - and so is you're partner. You're just posing for some reason or another.
- Love: You've fallen in love, as it's incredibly hard not to do so, but you must act as if nothing's changed.
- Public: You can't take it anymore. You two want to be acknowledged as a normal couple, and you want the world to know it.
- Most Pure Partnering: What better way to hone a fighter's skill than through the ultimate support: sex? The obligatory smut option.
- Mismatched: You've fallen in love with a fighter when you're a fighter or a master when you're a master.
- Not in Step: You're a terrible pairing. The two of you together makes no sense at all, but you must make it work.
- Childhood: From the very beginning of your life, you have been brought up as the perfect fighter or master.
- Don't Belong: You're normal; the only reason you're involved in all this is because the person you love is a fighter or master.
- Masters' Privilege: Masters can have a love interest in the "normal world"; fighters cannot. Is this a point of contention between you two?
- Dark Underbelly: You're a fighter or a master from the part of the world that sees fighters as second class. Can you learn that there's a different way?
- Jealous: The person you really want isn't your partner.
- Possession: After seeing the wandering eyes of your partner, you feel the need to remind them that it's you and them against the world.
- Comfort: The events of the day didn't go as planned, and one of you needs reassuring.
- Berserk Button: Your master has been threatened. You must destroy anyone who could have harmed them. Can you be brought back from the brink?
- Unexpected: A master protecting a fighter? Unheard of!
- Double Trouble: At least one of you in your pair is sadistic and looks for other fighter and master duos to torment, both physically and sexually, even if they don't want to fighter. The other party is willing or at the very least unable to be noncompliant.
- Attacked: You're a peaceful pair, but you've been sought out and our in danger.
- Need a Boost: Right in the middle of a fight, the fighter's strength is fading. The master must step in and show support or affection.
- To Be Left Alone: Your partner is leaving you. It is your duty to convince them to stay.
- Defeat: The battle didn't go your way. Your partner has been slain in front of your eyes; if you're a master, perhaps it was to get at you. Your humiliation is cinched by your being claimed.
- Betrayal: In a twist of fate, the one you should trust the most has been working against you this entire time.
- WILDCARD
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bakerstreet2016-01-04 09:27 am
Kon Shinonome | Amatsuki | OTA
Waver Velvet / Lord El Melloi II | Fate/
Kyouya Hibari | Katekyo Hitman Reborn | OTA
Cecil Harvey ☾ Final Fantasy IV (AU) ☾ F/M
krul tepes | owari no seraph
Yuuki Kuran ✿ Vampire Knight ✿ OTA
some weird 6 + 32 thing
Actually, he'll have to change his entire attire, and he should see to washing the blood from his hair before it dries completely. If they go home like this he'll leave the floors a bloody mess, and that just won't do.
First things first, however - he turns towards Yuuki, smiles broadly.
"Mistress, the filth has been taken care of."
As if she can't see as much for herself. Sebastian unceremoniously lets the severed arm drop to the ground; leaves it lying where it falls next to the rest of the body. Foolish, cowardly rats who threaten his mistress deserve no better "funeral", after all.
1/2
"What have you..."
It's nothing to him, but she feels her stomach churn sickeningly. It's all she can do to keep the bile down. Eyes lifting, shock and accusation is clear. Protests just moments before had fallen on deaf ears until there were no men standing. Now all that remains is the two of them.
Doesn't anything phase him?
2/2
"They started to retreat, Sebastian! They were begging for mercy!" Furious, her eyes glance over the carnage, before lifting up to look at him. So cool and cheerfully calm, as though he hadn't rained death seconds before. "I didn't want this-! They were obviously no match for you, so why did you have to kill them!?"
It would have been as easy as breathing for him to disarm and disable them without permanent injury or death. Instead, he's once more went too far.
1/2
He almost sounds genuinely surprised enough one could think he does go temporarily deaf whenever Yuuki is in danger (certainly not an entirely unheard-of concept amongst particularly protective Fighters). His eyebrows are creased in faint irritation at her scolding, however. What is he for, if not to eliminate anything that threatens her?
2/2
"Are my methods truly so displeasing?" As if they haven't had this argument before; as if he doesn't know fully well what she so dislikes about it. "Precisely because they were no match for me, should they not think twice before raising a hand towards you? Should they not face the consequences of their actions?"
no subject
It's a problem Sebastian wastes no time agonizing over. There's little hesitation when he has to kill. It's as easy as breathing. Fingers curling they fist at her sides.
"When we return back home we will address your behavior. I'm angry and tired of you not listening to me." Like a cat with selective hearing, and just as liable to play with his prey. As it is, he's covered in blood, a monster who can somehow eerily remain regal despite it.
A sound off to her side catches her attention and she frantically turns to glance in that direction. Here in this ally it's unlikely that the general populace has found them, but if someone accidentally wanders in, she knows her servant''s take on things. Better that there be no witnesses. Upset her eyes fall back to the pile of bodies. There's no choice. They can't even do anything about the bodies here now. They absolutely can't be outed to the general public.
Teeth gritting she grasps one of his sleeves to pull him into the cover of darkness and away from the mess, indicating to remain discreet. As much as she hates it.
"Get us out of here. We have to leave."
She doesn't want another body added to this mess, especially knowing his knack for putting her well being well above that of anyone else, regardless of what that means.
no subject
And yet. The mere thought of these scum even thinking of laying one finger on Yuuki...
His head snaps up at the sound, all his attention focused on it - a cat spotting a mouse at a distance. If there was any doubt of it being a good idea to remove the both of them from the scene before Sebastian decides whoever's approaching needs to be taken care of... Even so he's all compliance as Yuuki drags him by the sleeve into the shadows; his movements quick and quiet before he stands completely still, pressed up next to her, until her next orders.
"Yes, my lady", is his hushed response. A second later he has scooped her up in his arms with practised, gentle ease. Sure he could dawdle for however many seconds it would take for the intruder to enter the scene, give himself an excuse for some additional bloodshed... but even Sebastian has limits to how disobedient he will be. Yuuki is angry enough as it is, anyway, and there's something to be said for indulgence in moderation.
Unless she specifies otherwise he assumes they're going home. After making sure Yuuki is comfortable in his arms, he's off, easily slipping away in the shadows. Please forgive him; he'll get blood all over her, too.
no subject
The blood she expects, no matter how dissatisfied she is with it. Despite the necessity of it, in a way, she can't complain about her ruined clothes. This blood... It's on her hands just as much as it is on Sebastian. She's the one responsible for him and his actions. Her inability to control him as a master has resulted in death tonight. She can't walk away clean from such a confrontation without bearing some responsibility.
And yet... by the time they land upon the balcony leading into her bedroom, a profound sense of guilt wracks her. Blood's been shed, there's no denying that. But on the other token Sebastian has saved her life. Again. Dangerous and cruel as he may be, she realizes well that she had been targeted. If not for his arrival she may have died. While she can hold her own to a smaller extent (she likes to think of herself as an asset) she can be caught unaware and overpowered, especially by shear force of number. Not to mention that in comparison to servants like Sebastian, as a master her skills are better at aiding. Not through direct frontal attacks of her own.
As usual he's careful when he puts her down, and for a moment she doesn't have a lot to say. She blinks back the emotion that wants to well up. Her fingers catch her skirt to curl tightly into the rich fabric.
"Are you hurt?"
Now that they (and others...) are safe, she starts here.
no subject
It would be a lie to say it makes him feel bad to have almost made her cry. All the same, he doesn't particularly like it.
"Should not the servant be the first one to ask that?" Oh, he knows she's not hurt, not this time. Sebastian didn't give anyone the chance to do anything of the sort. He shrugs faintly, dismissively.
"They were nothing but thugs."
'Mere thugs couldn't dream of hurting me' is the implication he's going for, but the fact that his answer isn't a straightforward no is perhaps telling for anyone who knows him as well as Yuuki does. Then again, maybe his wording is just a deliberate reminder that they were people that he needlessly killed, and yet another attempt to provoke her anger. It certainly wouldn't be the first time he's done that.
It really hurts more in the perfectionism than in the physical sense, anyway. Mere thugs couldn't seriously injure him, as much as he is somewhat relieved to be kneeling after carrying her all the way home. Inhumanly talented or not, he's not entirely unaffected by blood loss.
no subject
Hand lifting, it pulls back in an instant before the palm of her hand meets squarely with a cheek.
Upset, not only with the fact that she's now struck him, but angry and hurt over the situation in general, she glares at him, emotions brimming at the surface and boiling over.
"How many times have we found ourselves here?" This isn't the first time she's been angry with his readiness to take life. How in moments when her life may be threatened, no amount of words can stop him. "I told you. Over and over, I've said that unless there's absolutely no other way, we're not going to take someone's life!" She trembles all over in frustration. It's all she can do to place her hands back at her sides in tightly controlled fists. His ease of killing is counter productive to everything she wants. Peace. Her entire goal is to work toward stopping the cycle of sadness and grief. Of course she knows that there are times where that can't be accomplished without blood. She's not so naive as to think otherwise. But even still.
"Why are you so quick to resort to such drastic measures? I can't understand it."
They're like night and day. And yet despite all of that, for as angry and upset as she is, whatever bond it is they share, makes it entirely impossible for her not to worry over him. She hates getting angry with him, or seeing him hurt. And even now that feeling ultimately wins out. Feeling of frustration allow concern to leak in. Her eyes dropping from his she takes a breath.
". . . Where is your injury?" There's no use in lying about it. She knows that he evaded her before. Again, is that due to their bond? He draws upon her mana and strength, and so an injury to her would be telling. It's not so much when it's in the reverse. "We should tend to that before anything else."
no subject
"...My left shoulder. It's shallow." It really was just a lucky strike and he'll be fine, but he's nevertheless annoyed with himself for allowing it to happen at all. For failing to hide it from her. "I will go for the first aid kit, then."
He gets up on his feet, movement light and fluid as always. Isn't he going to address her words on his behaviour at all? Goodness knows the why hasn't changed since the last time they had this talk. The whys, rather. He has presented many in the past, all perfectly reasonable to him, but she never seems to agree. 'I cannot well help the way I am, can I?' was especially badly received, that once.
"I suppose it simply angers me terribly, seeing anyone attempting to touch you." It's either a very honest reply, or a very manipulative one. How can she blame him for wanting to protect her, after all, for not wanting to lose her? Sebastian never seems to struggle with self-control in any other aspect of life.
no subject
Those men died because her life had been deemed more valuable in Sebastian's eyes. And in a twisted way, his words plainly spoken cause her to feel tossed. The deaths hurt her heart powerfully so. But knowing she's so important to him that he's willing to go to such extremes frustrates her, because a part of her has always wanted to be someone of great importance to him.
Just never in this manner. Hands curling at her sides, she takes a breath to try and steady herself. She has to remain calm. Getting any more emotional with him wont help. She's learned that since long ago.
Instead, she reaches out at last, and takes the first aid kit from him, before setting it on the table nearby. Lifting her opposite hand, she indicates for him to take a seat.
"Sit down please, and let me see the injury."
no subject
"Me, sitting in your presence? ...As my lady wishes." How backwards. How unseemly behaviour for a servant. He breathes a resigned laugh, but obeys without further protests. Deftly unbuttons his shirt enough to reveal the injured shoulder. Like he said, it's not a deep cut, at least not by his standards, although it's bled a bit by now with all his moving around.
"I apologise for this." What he means by 'this' is open to interpretation. The needless slaughter? Perhaps his next words will make it clearer:
"I would rather you could rest immediately - you must be tired." It's late, Yuuki has had a long day, she was just attacked... and here she is anyway, having to take care of him. "Yet I much prefer this to you suffering any such injuries yourself."
See? He just cares too much about her. Would rather break his own neck if it meant protecting her. How's that guilt coming along?
no subject
"I'm perfectly fine." Of course she wants to shower and clean up, but that can wait for the moment. "If you're hurt, then it's my responsibility to help take care of it." But then once more he reaffirms to her that what had transpired had been out of fear for her safety. She swallows thickly, lifting a cloth up to help clear some of the blood away in order to better treat his injury.
"I'm plenty strong on my own, you know." Which is true, to an extent. At least for a master. Overpowered, she doesn't possess anywhere near the same strength and abilities that Sebastian does. She's good with a staff, and knows a few spells and tricks of her own, but it pales in comparison to the strength of servants. She's better at helping supply and focus his own strength. That's the way it works between Master and Servant. And her supply and ability to do so is strong. Still...
"What happened before, I had it under control-" She claims such, but he knows well what the strength of another servant might be, and had found her surrounded. Leaning forward, she closes some of the space between them and tiredly rests her forehead upon the back of his silky black hair.
"Sebastian... We're a team, right?"
no subject
"What good would all my strength be, were my mistress not strong in her own right?"
Yuuki is strong, in her way. Not in the way Sebastian is, or most other servants are, but she is strong. Sebastian knows he can trust her to handle civilians on her own (not that those are likely to be aggressive) and even other masters. Even so, a master's fighting abilities are limited by nature - fighting is for servants, after all. And as a master, Yuuki's powers are awesome, once she decides to be serious. Sebastian isn't the type to contemplate how weak he might be had he been the servant of a different master, but he knows, in that inexplicable way that always seems to boil down to 'I just know because of the bond', that the reason he is as strong as he is... it's because the two of them are a team.
Well. In name they are, anyway. In practice...
"Are you not happy with our teamwork?"
no subject
"What teamwork. You always just do your own thing." Pretending otherwise didn't make it any less true. For all of how complacent he could act in a moment like this, while 'on the field', so to speak, he did whatever he felt like. Moreover, though they shard a common goal of sorts (or so she believed), their reasons and intentions varied, particularly when it came to methods.
"I want peace Sebastian. I want to stop the sadness and fix all this stupid corruption and grief. Not add to it. We're a nonlethal team." Not unless there was no other choice, and that was in self defense. "If you can't listen at all, maybe I should find myself a new servant."
And while she said such, it was an empty threat. The bond didn't work that way, and while she was master in their relationship, servants themselves were able to enact bonds. She couldn't just disintegrate it without some form of mutual agreement, and the idea of such was a painful one. Not to mention that unbonded masters were often targeted by rogue servants. If not killed, by another team, they could be forced into a bond that was completely mismatched.
. . . Not that their own made them incredibly compatible. As things stood today, though, it wasn't safe to walk around unguarded. The proof was splattered all over their clothes.
no subject
"Should you, now."
Of course he knows she can't leave him and find a new servant, not just like that. Even so her words hit something possessive in him, and although his tone is light, amused, he folds his hands in his lap to remove the temptation of grabbing her hand, or her wrist. He tilts his head to the side, contemplating her words.
"I am indifferent to whether there is peace or not", he offers after a moment. It's unusually straight-forward of him, giving his opinions or thoughts without prompting and without trying to worm his way out of answering something honestly. "But I do want to realise your goals."
Yuuki's preferred methods are simply so slow and inefficient... and Sebastian finds the violent approach a bit more fun.
"And most importantly, I want to keep you alive. You see, eventually word will get around enough that anyone with the intelligence to spare will know to leave you well alone. Will it not be so much easier then to carry out your plans? At your leisure, even." He chuckles, softly. "Ah, or is that but another excuse of mine and proof of how I do not listen?"
no subject
Yet his words strike her. In all the time she's know him, she doesn't think he's ever been quite so straightforward and honest. None of what he has to say makes her happy. But it gives her pause as she stares at him. The ends justify the means, in other words, is what he's trying to say. With a heavyhearted frown she shakes her head, arms crossing around her waist as she watches him.
While he looks and acts the part of a tame kitten who waits on her, he's a lot more like a lion than he lets on.
"What I don't understand is you." He's fiercely protective, to an incredible degree. Although it may have much to do with the bond, and having a master who can help strengthen his own power. She can't tell. With him everything is always tightly concealed behind an affected smile. "You say that, but I've yet to really understand what you yourself want in the long run."
She believes him, though, when he tells her that he wants her to realize her goals. They just can't agree on the methods at all.
"You're the strongest, most frightening servant I know, Sebastian." She knows that there are plenty of masters as well that would kill her simply to possess him. And for all of how frustrating and heartbroken his actions make her feel, the idea of giving him up to someone else is something she refuses to seriously consider.
Her words are soft when she speaks again.
"I'm just asking for restraint. Show me how strong you are without... all of the rest."
no subject
As far as Sebastian is concerned, the reason for a servant's existence is to fight. If he can effortlessly eliminate his master's opponents, isn't that all the better? It's a very base existence, granted, and a lowly reason to exist, and to go against that...
He could, of course. There are very few things Sebastian can't do. He makes no comment on what she says about not understanding him, about not understanding his motives. Yuuki didn't ask, so surely she doesn't expect an answer. Instead, he waits until she's done speaking.
"How challenging." Protecting her, scaring people off-- but no killing at all? Not even injuries? ...In the end, Sebastian is fond of challenges.
"And for how long would you have me exercise such restraint?"
Kija | Akatsuki no Yona | OTA
Lailah | Tales of Zestiria | OTA
Killia | Disgaea 5
Shokudaikiri Mitsutada | Touken Ranbu | m/m
warden amell | dragon age | ota
minako arisato | p3p | ota
Sorey l Tales of Zestiria
Etna | Disgaea | OTA
Kerillian || Warhammer Vermintide
Lucifer ⭐ Abrahamic Mythology ⭐ OTA
Cyril Kamelot | D. Gray-man | OTA