bakerstreet | so, i ask of thee, are you my master?

so, i ask of thee, are you my master?

The HOLY GRAIL WAR Meme

Seven Masters, magi of the present day. Seven Servants, heroes of days past.One Holy Grail, granting whomever claims it a wish. Only one team of Master and Servant may claim it.
Who will it be?
For those unfamiliar with Fate/Stay Night or Fate/Zero, you can find a better explanation of the Holy Grail War here. (Note: The Holy Grail War in Fate/EXTRA functions in a dramatically different way, and one not followed for purposes of this meme.)

Instructions
1. Comment with your character. In the subject line, put that character's name, canon, and which role (Master, Servant, or either) you would like them to fulfill. Though not mandatory, it would be preferred that you give a brief summary of your character as they will (most likely) be AU'd into the setting. (NOTE: If your character can fill the role of Servant, I suggest you state which class(es) -- Saber, Lancer, Archer, Rider, Caster, Assassin, or Berserker -- they fall into.)
2. Reply to others' comments. Pick your character's role (and the other character's if they list "Either" as their preference), then use the RNG to pick a scenario that fits the two characters' roles.
3. Enjoy! Though there might be triggers, depending on how the prompts are interpreted.

TWO MASTERS

1. Battle. Who says that Servants get to have all the fun? After all, most Masters try to kill each other, too. Whatever the circumstances, the two of you are locked in a fight. Neither of you are willing to use your Command Spells just yet, so no Servants here. Just two magi duking it out.

2. Alliance. There's a bigger threat out there. Either one Servant is exceptionally powerful, or the situation has changed and the participants need to take action aginst it. One way or another, you're teamed up with one of your rivals for the Holy Grail. How long will this last before you try to stab each other in the back? Or, will something more develop?

3. Protection. Uh-oh! One of you has lost your Servant! Unfortunately, there's no way you'd get to the church safely on your own, so the other one will help you get there! Or maybe you don't trust the priest presiding over the Holy Grail War and are giving shelter to them yourself? Given their track record, no one would blame you.

4. Death. One or both of you lay dying. It might have been by the other's hand, or by someone else's entirely. How will you spend your last moments in the presence of one of your rivals?

5. You, Too? Surprise! You may have been friends before, but you've just discovered that you're both Masters! How will you handle this revelation?

6. Wild Card. Roll again, pick one of the previous options, or make one up!

MASTER AND SERVANT

1. Are You My Master? The summoning is complete. Whether intentional or not, catalyst or not, a magus has summoned a Servant. What kind of meeting was it? Was everything totally under control, or did a hitch occur? Or maybe it happened in the middle of a life-or-death situation!

2. Identity. Either the Servant has flat out told the Master their identity, or they unleashed their Noble Phantasm. Either way, the cat is out of the bag. How will the Master react, now that they know their Servant's name and legend? Will anything change between the two?

3. Battle Aftermath. A battle has just ended. Who participated? Are either of you hurt? Did the Master have to use a Command Spell? Any number of things could have happened here.

4. Discord. Uh-oh. It looks like the Master and the Servant don't get along. Here come the arguments! Don't do something stupid, like waste a Command Spell over a triviality...

5. Love. And then, there's the opposite. Sometimes Masters and Servants fall in love with each other. How will this affect things?

6. Wild Card. Roll again, pick one of the previous options, or make one up!

TWO SERVANTS

1. Battle. This is what usually happens when two Servants meet -- they duke it out. This probably says enough as it is.

2. Alliance. There's a bigger threat out there. Either one Servant is exceptionally powerful, or the situation has changed and the participants need to take action aginst it. One way or another, you're teamed up with one of your rivals for the Holy Grail. How long will this last before you try to stab each other in the back? Or, will something more develop?

3. The Grail Dialogues. Maybe you're not interested in fighting just yet. Maybe you just want to sit down and talk with the other Servant. Find out what they want, what makes them tick. Get some wine while you're at it -- nothing like good wine to go with good talk!

4. Death. One or both of you lay dying...again. It might have been by the other's hand, or by someone else's entirely. How will you spend your last moments in this War in the presence of one of your rivals?

5. Identity. Congratulations, you've just learned each other's identities! Will this change the situation, or will you press onward?

6. Wild Card. Roll again, pick one of the previous options, or make one up!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Well, I suppose I could badger my Master to do it.

[If it'd go any further than one person, that's the real trick to it. His Master surviving kind of decides if it goes through.]

Ah, well, everyone else has loftier goals it seems. Mine's smaller, I think.

If you are close to them, they will understand your wishes.

[She says, perhaps it is guilty conscience of having to fight against his wish to fulfill hers.]

Hm. I do not know about that, Rider, we do not know if the others have anything to ask to the Grail.

Honestly, it's been sort of like the relationship between a man in the market and the person he buys fruit from. You see each other often enough, but your interaction is defined by transaction.

[There's probably a modern metaphor that works better, but Rider can't think of what it might be.]

Knowing those desires might make it harder to fight them, admittedly.

I see. [She sighs. She recalls how cold her relationship with Kiritsugu was.] At least I hope they are willing to listen to you.

[She understands the metaphor without trouble. It is simple enough. Her head tilts aside, hesitating to speak when it's better to let him go and carry the children to the Church as quick as possible.

Learning about other wishes just make her more determinate to fulfill hers.]

Hm. It should not be when you have decided to claim that wish.

They've been so far. Letting us co-operate is proof, I think.

[Rider knows he should head off now, but he liners, just to press the pause button.]

Well, you never know what's for something outside yourself. Hang on here--

[There, he's off again, spurred on by a desire to finish and to resume his conversation with Saber.]

[His first statement confuses her. Has this cooperation been Rider's idea and not his Master's originally? She does not ask him further to not distract him from his delivery of the children. When he returns, she will also help him to carry the remaining girls.

The Church walk is a short one. She waits as long as it takes for him to come back.]

[Rider returns as quickly as he's able, and all the better he has brought with him, well, a wheel barrow from the church. It'll look terrible, he knows, but at least this can be the last trip.]

The priest said we could borrow it--

[She has picked up the first girl when she glimpses at him return... pushing a wheel barrow.

Her expression is blank when he informs her of the use. The priest said what?]

Does that priest wish to mock us?

[There are only six girls, she can carry two or three if she must. What is that overseer thinking? Why are the priests of the modern Holy Church so twisted?]

I will assist you. We can go together.

[He can leave that thing here and have the priest fetch it for his brilliant idea.]

I think he was trying to help--

[But truth be told, Saber's question is reason enough to leave the wheel barrow behind.]

Give me four then, and can you take the last two?

I am sure it would have been more helpful if he let you borrow a vehicle.

[ With his Riding Skills, he wouldn't have crashed it.

She gives a long sigh, thinking Rider must be too sweet-natured to think so highly of someone who provides that as "assistance." ]

Yes, that is good.

[ She waits for him to let go of the wheel barrow and crouch so she can place the first girl on his shoulder. She really dislikes sometimes to be so short. ]

[On some things, Rider just assumes good enough will and insult passes him over. Given his friend, it makes for a decent balance.]

Anyway, I think were discussing comparing wishes and their goals relative to each other?

[It's said cheerfully as Rider crouches down for the last round of getting the kids into safe hands.]

Yes.

[She's reluctant to follow this conversation now. Because last time she spoke her wish aloud was disastrous and that was before she changed it. And before she changed it again.]

I suppose it is fair that learn about my wish.

[She has given a thought about her wish, because even after destroying the tainted Grail she has not felt at peace to break her contract. She no longer wishes to redo the selection ceremony. Thanks to Archer she has realized her mistake, but after returning to that Hill, she came to realize her regrets remain there, but she does not protecting her ideals, nor her time as the king.

In a moment of clarity, she has realized what summoned the World during her mourning. Someone she, as a person, not the king, would have wanted to protect.]

There is a person I slain that I should have protected. I suppose I wish to bring that person back to life.

[Rider listens quietly as the girls are piled on her shoulders. It is, in his estimation, something quite understandable. And familiar, and that's why he lets out a very wry smile.]

That's a fair wish. But would you be there beside them?

No, I would not be.

[Saber says as places the third girl and goes to fetch the fourth. She cannot be with them, she is still the king and she will return to that Hill to fulfill her role.

But perhaps Mordred can be free from her unpleasant fate away from Morgan's grasp. Even if she still believes she's an unwanted child.]

I believe that child will be better without my presence.

Hm. That seems a pretty big thing to assume.

[Rider stays perfectly still as Saber works. One last kid for him, and then Saber can scoop up the other two. A good night's adventure, and one with a net positive outcome. That's a rarity.]

Any particular reason you feel that way?

I am responsible for their death and their grief.

[Saber says without missing a beat, but she is not forthcoming with details. Has only answered because she's obliged by her code of honor to give back the information of her wish after he shared it. She doesn't wish to speak of her family trouble with others, even if they have become "public domain" apparently with the passage of the centuries.]

[That was not exactly what Rider was expecting. Not just because of the weight of the statement, but because they're surrounded by young children right now.

So he lets the statement land with the gravity it deserves, and nods quietly.]

You'd be doing that young man or woman a great kindness then, I think.

Hm.

[She does not answer his statement, almost expecting Rider to disapprove her wish. Almost wishing him to reject her new foolish mission like so many others have unravel her previous ones.

Does she have the right to bring Mordred back to life and think she would be content with a life in this modern world? Would that erase what is forever recorded? She does not think she is a good parent who can understand her own son, but when she carries these children, she feels disconnected to what normal families must feel when they are reunited.]

We are here.

[The sight of the Church is almost relieving. She can ignore the gravity of their talk.]

[Rider waves at the Overseer when they arrive, and the man (far more awake now than he was, thankfully) takes the last of the kids with no small amount of gratitude. There's already been a call to the children's parents to let them know that their kids have been found, and the cover-up is already in place.

When the last of the kids enters the church and the doors close, Rider turns to Saber, some reluctance in his eyes.]

I suppose that this concludes our evening's adventure.

[Saber watches the clergyman take the children in and feels some kind of relief... and accomplishment. Perhaps her past experience made her fear she would fail them too. After they are out her sight, she turns to Rider.

Unlike he there is not reluctance on her gaze, nor on her following action. She extends her arm at his direction. After tonight, they might become enemies, but at least she can acknowledge her respect with a handshake.]

It does. Then I wish you good luck, Rider.

[Rider takes the offered hand firmly in his, and smiles as they shake.]

Same here, Saber. Let me know if you need a second set of hands before this is all over, yeah?

If my Master permits it, I shall.

[She vows as she shakes his hand. After a moment, she halts the gesture and retracts her hand.

They are still at war, thus she must return to her Master's side.]

Farewell.

Nah. [It's the laziest correction, but still a correction.] We'll see each other later.

Hm. Of course.

[She looks briefly surprised at the correction.]

I did not mean that as a final goodbye.

[She's probably waiting for him to cancel his materialization because she can't reveal she cannot make this kind of exit.]

Just making sure you didn't. Success in your next fight, Saber.

[And, with that, Rider finally decides to call materialization quits. He's gone in a twinkling of gold dust, his great big grin being the last thing to fade.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

so, i ask of thee, are you my master?

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