ic contact.

[brainiest]

"Hello, Hermione Granger here. I must be busy, so please leave a message. Thank you very much!"

ic contact for hermione granger at drift fleet.
(text, voice, video, action;)

Comments

[castrationfist]

I think it counts!

[Because it's convenient for her current argument.]

[brainiest]

So he was head over heels in platonic love with me, just like I was with him.

[ ... It could work, she supposes. ]

[castrationfist]

Which means you're still quite a notable person. A perfect candidate for becoming a Heroic Spirit!

[brainiest]

Don't people have to care about my legend for it to work?

[castrationfist]

Don't you think the people of the Drabwurld will care about your story?

[brainiest]

Some of them, maybe. I had a few Native friends that... Liked working with me?

[castrationfist]

If they tell others about you, that's really all you need!

[brainiest]

Is it really that simple?

[castrationfist]

It is! I mean, in the first place, people only know about the stories about me. No one at all knows the truth of what happened, yet I am still here as a Servant.

[brainiest]

What if the stories about you are bad? Would you still become a Heroic Spirit?

[ Wait - no, she shakes her head. ]

It's not that simple. 'Good' and 'bad' aren't terms you can measure.

[castrationfist]

[What if the stories are bad, you ask Tamamo of all people.]

... You will become an Anti-Hero. One whose evil allowed for heroic deeds.

Master, you... don't know my legend at all, do you?

[brainiest]

[ Hermione tilts her head back over to look at Caster, pausing. ]

Gilgamesh must have been something like that. A King of Heroes, but - his legend wasn't...

[ She breathes out before she focusses on Tamamo. She knows Gilgamesh's story, and Diarmuid told her his, but... ]

I only know what you've told me and shown me.

[castrationfist]

I see...

[She doesn't like talking about it, but it's important she understands.]

... You know some of it, but the rest... Shall we return to your room, first?

[She can secure that against eavesdroppers, at least.]

[brainiest]

[ Frowning, she reaches for Tamamo's hand. ]

You don't have to do this.

[castrationfist]

I do. It's true I don't want you to know, but at the same time, I want you to understand.

[brainiest]

If you don't want me to know... Then you don't need to tell me. We could find a way for me to understand things without you having to do something that might hurt or upset you.

[castrationfist]

[She takes Hermione's hand that's being offered, and squeezes gently.]

It's all right, really. Since you already know the truth, anyway...

[brainiest]

If you're sure, then I'll listen. I'll always listens, Caster.

[castrationfist]

Then... Shall we start with what you do remember of my story?

[brainiest]

I - I remember the memory. The court, and the field, and the arrows. The - the poison...?

[castrationfist]

[At the mention of 'arrows', she unconsciously rubs her neck lightly, where the enchanted arrow struck her...]

That's right. From my time in court, to the fields of Nasu... Well, the important part happens at the same time, in a different location.

You see, in Japan's folklore, there are three youkai held above all others, Japan's Three Great Disasters. Monsters who, should they ever return, would cause damage so vast even Counter Guardians would not be able to restrain them easily.

The oni, Shuten-Douji, who kidnapped nobles and ate princesses, the son of a dragon who cared for nothing but killing. Emperor Sutoku, the dethroned emperor who, in his desire for vengeance after death, rose again as a tengu, cursing any to this day who speak his name.

... And the nine-tailed vixen, Tamamo-no-Mae. Who fled from China after corrupting the emperors there, invented many tortures, and poisoned Emperor Toba, starting the Hogen Rebellion and Genpei War. The worst of monsters, who if returned to life, would surely kill a hundred heroes and bring about a great darkness to the modern era.

[brainiest]

[ Hermione hears it all, and she listens, and she takes it in, and it hurts. It makes her think about the other legends, the other stories she's heard in her time, the reality of them - and she shifts, moving forward, taking Tamamo into her arms and holding her close, lifting her hand to stroke the back of her head gently. ]

That's your legend? Your story?

[castrationfist]

[She leans into the touch. though she tries to always project an air of positivity and optimism, truthfully, it does wear on her. She wouldn't change her life or her legend, even with the Grail, but that just means she accepts it, not that she likes it.

She's tired of being the evil fox.]

Yes. I was conflated with Daji, a fox spirit from China... Who never really existed. She was created as a scapegoat for the evils of an emperor... Well, I still hate being compared to her, though.

The world thinks that I grew close to Toba to poison him, killing him to take over Japan myself. Abe no Seimei is a hero who saw through demons, to that folklore, not the monster who exposed other monsters.

As far as any know, I am the Heroic Spirit of a traitor, a vicious and cunning beast who will surely kill any I grow close to. But since that legend started the Genpei War, which gave birth to many heroes, I am classified as an Anti-Hero, one whose evil did greater good.

[brainiest]

Well, you and I know that's not true.

[ Hermione tilts her head up, leaning back to look at Caster again, expression set and sure. ]

Just because there are stories about you doesn't mean they're true, and we both know that. I've seen the reality, and so have you - it's not who you are. People can mix you up with someone else and twist the story, but you and I know who you are.

[ Her hand lifts, touching Tamamo's cheek. ]

It's hard, but... Sometimes we have to ignore what people think about us and see what our friends recognise. And when I look at you I don't see a traitor, or a vicious beast. I see a good person, someone loyal, and loving, and someone who I know I can trust.

[castrationfist]

[Somehow, Tamamo wants to disagree. She's not a good person. She killed an army, she as good as killed her last two Masters. She was a useless Servant. And she's scared of telling her any of that. She knows it could never happen, but she fears Hermione leaving her for it, realizing and judging her for her failures.

... But on the other hand, Hermione said that much, and she can't help but feel happy about it. Her cheeks turn rather red under Hermione's touch. Can't she forget the serious stuff for a bit?

From her position in her arms, Tamamo throws her own arms around Hermione, in what can only be described as a point blank tackle hug, her tail wagging like an excited puppy's.]

Ah, Master! It's that sort of killer line that makes me fall in love with you! You really do have natural talent as a ladykiller!