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It's what tied us to our world, like a tether. When it's gone we couldn't go home.

Ah... So he has to remain in the Drabwurld?

That's right. Our shard was what tied us to home, so without a shard it's impossible for us to get back.

I see... Well, from what I've heard, it sounds like many of you are happier there anyway, right?

Some of us were. Some of us really wanted to go home, but... It became home to me.

[ She rubs her fingers over her scars absently; she doesn't feel as though she can go home, to England. It doesn't feel right anymore. ]

[She nods.]

Well, home can be anywhere, right? What matters to a home is who's there, not where it is! If that's your home, then you'll find a way to get back to them.

That's right.

[ Hermione brightens, leaning into Caster gently. ]

You can come with me, if you want.

[Caster's thought about this before, since the last time they discussed this. Frankly, the situation is a mess to her. Her feelings for Hakuno, her feelings for Hermione, her fate in the Moon Cell... She doesn't know what to do, but...]

I would like that a lot. But... Are you sure it's okay? After all, then you'd have two Servants in love with you... I think that would get pretty troublesome.

[Can Hermione cope with the marriage shit from both Gilgamesh and Caster at the same time?]

Two - [ Hermione swallows, throat tight for a moment.

The thing is - she believed that Gilgamesh thought he was in love with her, or was in love with the idea of her, but she never believed it was any kind of serious romantic love. She was one of the first people to show him real, honest affection, to give him friendship without limits, to try and understand him, and perhaps he fell into some kind of trap. Maybe it's the same for Tamamo - Hermione's not sure the other woman could really be in love with her, and she's concerned, for a moment, before she breathes out. ]

Gilgamesh doesn't have any room to talk. He has a Master all of his own, and he was fine with my contract with Diarmuid.

... If that is the case, then I'll be happy. But, even so, judging from the legends, I don't think he's the type to give up anyway.

[She never met him, of course, but the legends are very clear about what kind of person Gilgamesh is.]

But I don't intend to give up either. Ah, but, please don't misunderstand! I know you don't return my feelings.

[Even as she says it, she's smiling. She knows it, and she never expected otherwise. That way, she's okay.]

Just... I want to be honest about my love. But those same feelings might cause problems for you. So... I thought, before we agreed to anything, you should know. Otherwise, it would be dishonest, and then what kind of wife would I be?

No, he's not. From the day he proposed to me he never stopped asking for me to be his queen, no matter how many times I said no.

[ And she had, genuinely, considered it once. The Seelie Court wanted her to end up getting married, and politically speaking it would have been good for her - he was well known and highly ranking. When he lost his shard there was no need to think about any of that, though, and she had forgotten it...

As much as she could while still wearing his ring.

Hermione bows her head, looking a touch ashamed, reaching for Caster's hand. ]

It's not a problem for me. I can handle affection, and love, and friendship. I... I don't think I will ever love you back, not because you're not beautiful, or charming, but because... I'm not sure I remember how to love anyone anymore.

[... Even though she expected it, to be told that she won't ever be loved still hurts. Her heart is crushed, and... Her ears droop down, and her tail lowers itself between her legs. But she did expect it, and she's skilled enough to keep it from showing on her face.

She takes Hermione's hand, with an earnest smile- and more importantly, an honest one. Even if it hurts, she still wants the one she loves to be happy.

Holding Hermione's hand in both of hers, she steps in to meet Hermione's lowered gaze.]

I don't know... You might not remember right now. That sort of thing can happen. When my first Master abandoned me and cast me aside, I thought certainly, I would be the same, and never fall in love again.

[Has she told Hermione about what Twice did to her? ... Maybe not, she realizes too late, but it's too late now. She just has to press on.]

But it's not necessarily gone forever. It might take a lot of time, but you might remember one day. And until that day comes, I'll give you all the love you can stand.

So... Is it okay if I keep loving you like this, until you remember? And when that day comes, even if the one who captures your heart isn't me, I'll still devote myself to serving you, and bless you with whoever it is you want.

[ The problem is that Hermione knows how desperately big her own heart is; it's wide and great, and there's room enough for everyone, but falling in love? It seems so far and desperately out of her reach, with how intent her focus had been in the Drabwurld and how hard and far she had pushed herself... And with how painful love had been for her, in the end.

She had loved Harry, and he had become someone - something - she couldn't even recognise anymore, tainted by the Drabwurld and a pet of the Queen he told her not to trust. She had loved Dorian with such intensity it had terrified her, given him a part of herself and stood at his side, and he had been sure she would cast him aside; he had tried to have her abandon him, even though she swore not to. She had stared at his portrait, at the madness and the horror of it, and she had accepted him because she needed him.

Hermione had loved Gilgamesh, in her own way, and he had tried to kill her. He had tried to use her.

It wasn't that she denied the strength and power of love, but it had hurt her terribly, and a part of her was afraid. She was afraid to see how much more pain she could bear on her own shoulders. ]

I'm not going to be like your first Master. I promise. I won't abandon you, Tamamo - it's not who I am. It's not who we're going to be together. If you want to break the Contract, if the Master you won with arrives, then we'll find a way. But until then we're going to be together, because we're Partners until the end.

[ Shifting, Hermione leans forward, resting her forehead on the other woman's gently. ]

I'll stand by your side. It - I can't stop you loving anyone, especially not me. They're your feelings, not mine, and I would never command you or tell you not to feel the way you do. It's wonderful to know that you're loved, that someone cares about you that deeply, and - and I hope that we can find a way to be happy together, even if it's not how you want it to be.

[That gets her to let go of Hermione's hands, to hug her instead. Not tightly, just a looser, comforting hold.

(What she doesn't say is that Hakuno can't possibly arrive. After all, mere seconds after Tamamo arrived, Hakuno's soul was deleted- a bugged NPC was removed from the Moon Cell. Tamamo will never see her again... Nor Twice, for that matter. To talk about her old Masters... That's not needed right now.

One day, she might have to come clean with Hermione about what she did to her Masters. But not now. Not today.)]

You're silly, Hermione. I told you already. It doesn't matter how it is- I will simply serve you with all of my heart. That's all I need to be happy with you.

[ It's easy to lean into the embrace, to let herself settle in Tamamo's arms, because it feels right. She thinks it must have something to do with the connection between Servant and Master; she had never felt out of place cuddling up to Diarmuid, either, despite the more familial relationship they shared.

Maybe she really wasn't cut out to be a Master. Maybe she was a strong witch, but - she's not determined enough, or cruel enough, or - dangerous enough. She's sure Gilgamesh and Dorian and a thousand other people had told her she was far too kind, time and time again.

Breathing out, she relaxes, nodding her head. ]

Then we'll be together - Partners. For as long as we're able.

[Caster, on the other hand, is a pretty cuddly person. It's not actually immediately obvious- She keeps her personal space normally, and when she's trying to act the part of a serious Servant, she tends to kneel in her seat without moving. But once the mood allows it, she likes to try to be all over whoever she likes.

So she has no problem at all cuddling up close to Hermione, gently stroking her back.]

That's going to be forever, you know. We're both pretty able people, I think!

I'm not immortal, you know.

[ She just has a tripled lifespan - or she will, as soon as she gets her shard back.

Hermione shakes her head, though, shrugging it off and focussing on her Servant instead. ]

You know, if someone as amazing as you doesn't become a Heroic Spirit yourself, I'd be quite surprised. And even if you don't, I'll just find you again once you reincarnate.

[... Would she reincarnate on Earth or in the Drabwurld, though? Thinking about it, Caster doesn't actually know, this is a new situation...]

... Me? A heroic spirit?

[ Hermione can't help her short laugh. ]

I'm not legendary. I'm just... Hermione.

What about, the hero who crossed dimensions to save another world? Someone who, feeling unequipped for it, became a Marchioness, had followers, gained magic and powers and was notable enough that the King of Heroes and a Knight of Fianna were head over heels for her? A brave soul who works for others' sakes?

[ ... Well, when you put it like that.

She does mumble, though. ]

Diarmuid wasn't 'head over heels' for me...

[... oh, no, that reaction is just too cute.]

Hm, maybe not romantically, but I certainly think he was in some way.

I think he felt more like a big brother than anything else.

[ And, well, he was sleeping with Gilgamesh too... ]

That's love, too, isn't it?

[I HAVE MANY QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW]

Of it's own kind, of course.

[ Kirei, Dorian, Diarmuid... ]

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