[ It's so fun watching her try to hide how his actions make her melt... she can blame how cute she is for that.
He grins exactly the way she expects him to grin before opening his mouth wide, like a predator taking a bite out of his prey... and chomps down on Ai's hand.
Obviously, as is the point, it's not exactly gentle. He bites hard enough that the resulting pain is bound to last for a good while... at least if they leave it to heal normally. ]
[ It hurts. Enough so that even though she'd agreed to this and she'd been prepared for it, it takes an outsized portion of her self control to not yank her hand back again. She's just barely not bleeding, somehow - the pain bolts up her arm and she winces, her fingers twitching and flexing in protest. ]
Ow, ow, ow...!
[ Her protest is a little pathetic, honestly. And definitely sulky. ]
Oh come on, it's nothing you're not used to by now.
[ Only god knows how many marks have currently been left on Ai's body underneath her clothes. He pulls back, but keeps her hand held in his... where he tenderly caresses the resulting bite mark. Enough to hurt, but with just enough restraint that she isn't bleeding. ]
Now, I'll show you the spell, and I'll guide you through it, but it'll be on you to heal the rest once I'm done.
[ It's the perfect motivator! Besides maybe being able to clean herself up a little more next time she wants to wear a cute swimsuit. ]
[ God even her deadeyed stare is cute... he's never going to stop teasing her. Ever. ]
Of course. With the Mystic Code, the spell was already 'loaded' so to speak, you just set it off by running mana through it. Quite convenient, really. If you want to do it yourself, though, then congratulations... it's time to learn your first incantation.
[ Y'know, besides the whole "my will creates your body" thing that had to be used in order to summon this complete menace into her life. ]
[ Her expression shifts towards genuine, curious surprise. ]
You actually have to say something out loud to make it work? I know that's how it goes on TV and everything but you never do it, so I thought...
[ Then again, Oberon's a Servant - and a pretty unusual one, she's come to realize as she learns more about how all this works. Master or not, she's just a regular puny human - it makes sense that things would be different for her. Maybe it's just to give her some extra help. ]
It's not as long as the one I had to say to summon you, is it? I'll never memorize it...
Nope, such a convenient and potentially life-saving spell that generally needs to be used quickly in emergencies is going to need at least a 20-line incantation. Better get memorizing, Ai.
[ He's such an ass, but at least his assholery is at least somewhat by necessity. ]
Incantations do have a purpose, you know. Spells like this have a pre-established process and pre-determined capabilities. It's what makes them easy to use. Large-scale rituals require incantations as a process, but for thaumaturgy on this level, the main point of an incantation is a form of self-hypnosis. You're not chanting it to the outside world, you're chanting it to yourself. Think of it like forcibly putting yourself in the ideal mindset required to best fulfill a task.
[ He checks to make sure she's still following along before continuing. ]
Generally speaking, incantations for the same spell can vary between mages based on personal preference, but as long as they possess a specific meaning and certain keywords, it doesn't really matter.
[ Basically, once she knows the incantation, she can say it however the hell she wants as long as she gets the important stuff down. The same logic actually applies to the incantation for Servant Summoning as well. ]
Of course, that means you can do it chantlessly, but I'd wait until you improve as a mage more before trying something like that.
[ As she's listening, a little smile pulls at her lips - fond and a little bemused at once. He's making this all surprisingly easy, especially considering her experience with magecraft starts and ends with her arrival here. This is all totally foreign to her and yet, she's starting to get the hang of it.
For all he'd complained about teaching her, he's really not half bad at it. Not that she thinks he's going to make a habit of it. ]
Magecraft sure is complicated, huh... [ Understatement of the century. ] I can't believe keeping you around was the easy part.
[ She gives him a cheeky grin but then her expression sobers again. ]
I think I can figure it out so long as you show me, though.
Hah, of course it is. And I'm not even a particularly skilled mage at that.
[ He's more of an incredibly deadly phenomenon that would cause most mages to froth at the mouth... both in regards to being a Servant and being, well, him. Though while what he said is objectively true, the fact he made such leeway in learning all of this by himself in order to pass it onto Artoria might be why that's a lie. ]
Still, is it really that easy keeping me around?
[ Said with a grin. Maybe he oughta be rougher during their nights of passion. Is that even possible!? Don't answer that. ]
You're actually way less high maintenance than the rest of my fans, if you can believe it. This is basically a vacation for me.
[ the worst part is, this does not seem to be a lie........ At the very least, she has a lot more fun maintaining him than she does most of her other fans.
But she just laughs and shakes her head. ]
Alright, alright. I'm paying attention. I'll get it right first time, just watch.
[ Maintaining Oberon is a very unique process compared to what she has to do for her fans, that's for sure. ]
Well, I'm glad to be providing for you a very enjoyable vacation, then.
[ So he says before properly focusing on what he's supposed to be doing... healing Ai's hand. ]
The curtain has yet to fall, restore that which is broken.
[ It's simple, just one line, but his hand glows and the pain in her hand begins to slowly vanish... until he abruptly stops the process, leaving her hand still in just enough pain for her to work with. ]
...There. Now remember how that felt, because if I have to give you another demonstration, I'll be biting your hand again first.
[ He releases her hand and leans back. Despite her claim, it's not like he expects her to get this in one try. Chances are she'll need to figure out what kind of wording works best for her. Perhaps there's a better way to teach her thius magecraft... in fact, there almost definitely is, but hey. His last pupil turned out just fine, didn't she? At least she's not learning from the actual Merlin, whose skill at incantations leaves something to be desired. ]
[ Mildly; ] I'd never recommend you as a teacher to anyone else if their life depended on it.
[ Not that he'd ever agree but, you know. Principal of the thing and all.
She drops her gaze down to her hand, still marred with the imprints of his teeth and does her best to do as he'd said. To visualize, to get into the right headspace to let the magic work. Since she's seen and felt him do it, she sort of had the idea, but... ]
The curtain has yet to fall, restore that which is broken.
[ She recites it perfectly, matching his cadence and intonation - an actress reciting her lines. Something sparks, some mana flows and some of the pain dulls... but then it sputters and fades out. ]
[ His track record of exactly one student who went on to thoroughly kick his ass... though she's right, he'd rather avoid having to do this more than is strictly necessary, and twice is already pushing it.
He watches her first attempt. The result is a failure just as he figured it'd be, but that it started to work at all was a surprise.
Well, he already knew how compatible they were, maybe it shouldn't be a surprise that his own personal preference in an incantation would work for her... albeit only slightly.
In any case, he claps his hands together. ]
Congratulations, Ai, you've reached the most crucial step in learning magecraft... trial and error.
[ Translation: Better start practicing over and over again, girl. ]
[ Her mouth curls up into something halfway between a smile and a grimace - probably not a surprise given the nasty bite still marring her hand. It's better than it was before she tried, at least. When she flexes her fingers experimentally, her nerves don't protest quite as much as she'd have expected and if she squints down at the bite mark... it does look a little less livid than before. She'll call that progress for now. ]
That's the most crucial step in learning pretty much anything, isn't it? Trying it over and over until you start getting it right.
[ Getting it wrong over and over is how Ai does most things, after all. ]
Exactly. If it were so easy that anyone could get it right on their first try, everyone would be a mage.
[ As if. The whole reason mages try to keep this stuff to themselves is for the preservation of mystics in the Age of Man. Still, that's a whole other lesson that Ai doesn't need to worry about right now. ]
Go on, then. Keep trying. Don't worry, I'll be sure to bite you again if you need it.
[ Said with a grin that means he's probably hoping he gets to bite her again... ]
Oh, sure. You're just so helpful, huh? [ Her grin in return is just as playful. ] You'd bite me again whether or not you need to the second I gave you an excuse to do it. In fact, I bet you're cooking one up right now.
[ She eyes him for a second - and then tilts her head, still wearing that playful grin. ]
So what happens if I get it right this time? Do I get a reward?
[ He finds himself laughing back. Maybe that’s not necessarily a good thing, though, since that means she’s probably definitely right. ]
What can I say? I’m a very hands-off type of teacher.
[ He says minutes after his hands were on her, connected to her circuits, guiding her along… not to mention, you know, the fucking biting. ]
Oh? What, learning magic isn’t rewarding enough by itself? [ He says it like that, but he’s grinning just as much as she is. ] Well, if it’ll motivate you, then fine.
[ So he says, not at all thinking of what the reward will be in the event that she succeeds. ]
[ Nuh-uh. You can't be trusted. [ says the girl who was just letting him chew on her hand... ] It's safer if I decide.
She drops her gaze back down to her hand and turns it over, examining the bite from another angle. The incantation had worked, but it'd still sat strangely in her mouth. Someone else's words, too wordy for her to really connect with them. She and Oberon are similar enough that it'd worked but it still doesn't feel right. Maybe something else, something shorter would be more...
Her expression visibly twists with the look of someone working their way up to something a little embarrassing. But if it's just about putting yourself into the right mindset, the words that should work for Ai are - ]
... Lights, camera, action...?
[ For a second, nothing happens. Then, a pop and flash of mana like a camera's flashbulb and everything flows. It's not perfect, but blotches of healed skin spatter over her hand, unevenly patching over the bite still marring her skin. It's far from perfect - but it's a huge leap on from her first try. ]
[ She's not exactly wrong, either. He would make the reward something extremely intimate, wouldn't he? And heightened intimacy seems to always lead to one place with them as of late... and they just got a new bed, too.
...Except he can feel the way her mana reacts as she makes her second attempt, and his eyes can only widen at the sudden leap in efficiency. ]
Wha...
[ ...Seriously? Is he actually that good of a teacher? ]
[ Perhaps unsurprisingly, Ai looks equally... alarmed, perhaps? Or maybe just a little taken aback. It certainly doesn't look as if she'd expected it to work. ]
Huh. You know, the whole genius mage thing was supposed to be a joke.
[ She laughs a little uncertainly and flashes him a smile. ]
[ He blinks, realizing that his mouth is hanging open and quickly shutting it, clearing his throat. Is it their compatibility? Maybe it's because he gave her a better starting point? Not that it really matters in terms of human magecraft, where lineage is everything.
...He's not saying that out loud. The last thing he needs to end up finding out is that she's actually got some relation to an old mage family that she never knew about, so he'll keep his cursed mouth shut on that matter. ]
...Ugh. Fine. What do you want?
[ That should be clear enough as an answer, right? ]
[ Sh-she's never seen someone look so thoroughly defeated over getting the exact thing they were aiming for... it's enough to make her smile warm up and fit a giggle to bubble out of her mouth. ]
Aah, I hadn't actually thought that far ahead just yet but now you've put me on the spot...
[ Her warm smile turns into a playful little grin. ]
[ His eyes widen a little, his first immediate thought being "what, that's all?"
And can you really blame him for that line of thought? In terms of relationship checkpoints, they've gone just a tad further than a "date". Hell, they're even living together. Going on a regular date seems somewhat tame in comparison, doesn't it?
Except then it hits him... that they've never really gone on a proper date, have they? Sure, they've had outings... some of which ending on very intimate notes (Ai's swimsuit look remains thoroughly engraved into his mind, huh), but it's not like he's ever really taken her out anywhere proper. If anything, it's been the other way around, with her dragging him out of the apartment and forcing him to go out as himself instead of the Fairy King. ]
...
[ He brings a hand up to rub the back of his head as he awkwardly averts his gaze. A date... the thought causes hesitation to form in his mind. Though it's several steps behind the base that they're on, something about outright taking Ai on a date is... isn't embarrassing, but Oberon the Liar taking a woman out on a date?
...Or maybe he's overthinking it, and he really shouldn't be worrying about a date of all things after the countless hours he's spent literally plowing her into a broken bed.
God. His curse became so much more annoying once he found his Titania... ]
A Servant and Master going on a date...? That must be a first. [ ...WELL ACTUALLY— ] But fine. I suppose the alternative is "something horrible", right?
[ Said with his usual grin as he hops off of his perch, glancing at her mostly-healed hand. ]
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He grins exactly the way she expects him to grin before opening his mouth wide, like a predator taking a bite out of his prey... and chomps down on Ai's hand.
Obviously, as is the point, it's not exactly gentle. He bites hard enough that the resulting pain is bound to last for a good while... at least if they leave it to heal normally. ]
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Ow, ow, ow...!
[ Her protest is a little pathetic, honestly. And definitely sulky. ]
Did you really have to do it that hard?!
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[ Only god knows how many marks have currently been left on Ai's body underneath her clothes. He pulls back, but keeps her hand held in his... where he tenderly caresses the resulting bite mark. Enough to hurt, but with just enough restraint that she isn't bleeding. ]
Now, I'll show you the spell, and I'll guide you through it, but it'll be on you to heal the rest once I'm done.
[ It's the perfect motivator! Besides maybe being able to clean herself up a little more next time she wants to wear a cute swimsuit. ]
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It's not the same thing and you know it.
[ Does it count as a hickey if it's on your hand...? Questions to ask never. ]
I mostly remember how it felt with the Mystic Code, but... well, that was with the Mystic Code. I don't know how to get it started.
[ And that was healing Oberon rather than herself. Does that make it easier or harder? ]
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[
God even her deadeyed stare is cute... he's never going to stop teasing her. Ever.]Of course. With the Mystic Code, the spell was already 'loaded' so to speak, you just set it off by running mana through it. Quite convenient, really. If you want to do it yourself, though, then congratulations... it's time to learn your first incantation.
[ Y'know, besides the whole "my will creates your body" thing that had to be used in order to summon this complete menace into her life. ]
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You actually have to say something out loud to make it work? I know that's how it goes on TV and everything but you never do it, so I thought...
[ Then again, Oberon's a Servant - and a pretty unusual one, she's come to realize as she learns more about how all this works. Master or not, she's just a regular puny human - it makes sense that things would be different for her. Maybe it's just to give her some extra help. ]
It's not as long as the one I had to say to summon you, is it? I'll never memorize it...
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[ He's such an ass, but at least his assholery is at least somewhat by necessity. ]
Incantations do have a purpose, you know. Spells like this have a pre-established process and pre-determined capabilities. It's what makes them easy to use. Large-scale rituals require incantations as a process, but for thaumaturgy on this level, the main point of an incantation is a form of self-hypnosis. You're not chanting it to the outside world, you're chanting it to yourself. Think of it like forcibly putting yourself in the ideal mindset required to best fulfill a task.
[ He checks to make sure she's still following along before continuing. ]
Generally speaking, incantations for the same spell can vary between mages based on personal preference, but as long as they possess a specific meaning and certain keywords, it doesn't really matter.
[ Basically, once she knows the incantation, she can say it however the hell she wants as long as she gets the important stuff down. The same logic actually applies to the incantation for Servant Summoning as well. ]
Of course, that means you can do it chantlessly, but I'd wait until you improve as a mage more before trying something like that.
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For all he'd complained about teaching her, he's really not half bad at it. Not that she thinks he's going to make a habit of it. ]
Magecraft sure is complicated, huh... [ Understatement of the century. ] I can't believe keeping you around was the easy part.
[ She gives him a cheeky grin but then her expression sobers again. ]
I think I can figure it out so long as you show me, though.
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[ He's more of an incredibly deadly phenomenon that would cause most mages to froth at the mouth... both in regards to being a Servant and being, well, him. Though while what he said is objectively true, the fact he made such leeway in learning all of this by himself in order to pass it onto Artoria might be why that's a lie. ]
Still, is it really that easy keeping me around?
[ Said with a grin. Maybe he oughta be rougher during their nights of passion.
Is that even possible!? Don't answer that.]Then listen up... but don't forget to feel.
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[ the worst part is, this does not seem to be a lie........ At the very least, she has a lot more fun maintaining him than she does most of her other fans.
But she just laughs and shakes her head. ]
Alright, alright. I'm paying attention. I'll get it right first time, just watch.
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Well, I'm glad to be providing for you a very enjoyable vacation, then.
[ So he says before properly focusing on what he's supposed to be doing... healing Ai's hand. ]
The curtain has yet to fall, restore that which is broken.
[ It's simple, just one line, but his hand glows and the pain in her hand begins to slowly vanish... until he abruptly stops the process, leaving her hand still in just enough pain for her to work with. ]
...There. Now remember how that felt, because if I have to give you another demonstration, I'll be biting your hand again first.
[ He releases her hand and leans back. Despite her claim, it's not like he expects her to get this in one try. Chances are she'll need to figure out what kind of wording works best for her. Perhaps there's a better way to teach her thius magecraft... in fact, there almost definitely is, but hey. His last pupil turned out just fine, didn't she? At least she's not learning from the actual Merlin, whose skill at incantations leaves something to be desired. ]
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[ Not that he'd ever agree but, you know. Principal of the thing and all.
She drops her gaze down to her hand, still marred with the imprints of his teeth and does her best to do as he'd said. To visualize, to get into the right headspace to let the magic work. Since she's seen and felt him do it, she sort of had the idea, but... ]
The curtain has yet to fall, restore that which is broken.
[ She recites it perfectly, matching his cadence and intonation - an actress reciting her lines. Something sparks, some mana flows and some of the pain dulls... but then it sputters and fades out. ]
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[ His track record of exactly one student who went on to thoroughly kick his ass... though she's right, he'd rather avoid having to do this more than is strictly necessary, and twice is already pushing it.
He watches her first attempt. The result is a failure just as he figured it'd be, but that it started to work at all was a surprise.
Well, he already knew how compatible they were, maybe it shouldn't be a surprise that his own personal preference in an incantation would work for her... albeit only slightly.
In any case, he claps his hands together. ]
Congratulations, Ai, you've reached the most crucial step in learning magecraft... trial and error.
[ Translation: Better start practicing over and over again, girl. ]
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That's the most crucial step in learning pretty much anything, isn't it? Trying it over and over until you start getting it right.
[ Getting it wrong over and over is how Ai does most things, after all. ]
Should I give it one more try?
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[ As if. The whole reason mages try to keep this stuff to themselves is for the preservation of mystics in the Age of Man. Still, that's a whole other lesson that Ai doesn't need to worry about right now. ]
Go on, then. Keep trying. Don't worry, I'll be sure to bite you again if you need it.
[ Said with a grin that means he's probably hoping he gets to bite her again... ]
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Oh, sure. You're just so helpful, huh? [ Her grin in return is just as playful. ] You'd bite me again whether or not you need to the second I gave you an excuse to do it. In fact, I bet you're cooking one up right now.
[ She eyes him for a second - and then tilts her head, still wearing that playful grin. ]
So what happens if I get it right this time? Do I get a reward?
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definitelyright. ]What can I say? I’m a very hands-off type of teacher.
[ He says minutes after his hands were on her, connected to her circuits, guiding her along… not to mention, you know, the fucking biting. ]
Oh? What, learning magic isn’t rewarding enough by itself? [ He says it like that, but he’s grinning just as much as she is. ] Well, if it’ll motivate you, then fine.
[ So he says, not at all thinking of what the reward will be in the event that she succeeds. ]
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Huh. You agreed to that faster than I thought you might. Aren't you worried I might do something horrible?
[ Not that she was planning to, but. Come on, don't hand her a freebie like that. ]
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[ Besides, if she actually manages to figure this out on her first day, then she'll deserve a reward. Not that he expects that to happen anyways. ]
But you're right. A reward within reason, then. No mischief allowed.
[
If he's a liar, though, then does that mean mischief is totally allowed?]no subject
She drops her gaze back down to her hand and turns it over, examining the bite from another angle. The incantation had worked, but it'd still sat strangely in her mouth. Someone else's words, too wordy for her to really connect with them. She and Oberon are similar enough that it'd worked but it still doesn't feel right. Maybe something else, something shorter would be more...
Her expression visibly twists with the look of someone working their way up to something a little embarrassing. But if it's just about putting yourself into the right mindset, the words that should work for Ai are - ]
... Lights, camera, action...?
[ For a second, nothing happens. Then, a pop and flash of mana like a camera's flashbulb and everything flows. It's not perfect, but blotches of healed skin spatter over her hand, unevenly patching over the bite still marring her skin. It's far from perfect - but it's a huge leap on from her first try. ]
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Whatever you say~
[ She's not exactly wrong, either. He would make the reward something extremely intimate, wouldn't he? And heightened intimacy seems to always lead to one place with them as of late... and they just got a new bed, too.
...Except he can feel the way her mana reacts as she makes her second attempt, and his eyes can only widen at the sudden leap in efficiency. ]
Wha...
[ ...Seriously? Is he actually that good of a teacher? ]
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Huh. You know, the whole genius mage thing was supposed to be a joke.
[ She laughs a little uncertainly and flashes him a smile. ]
So, um - What's my grade?
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...He's not saying that out loud. The last thing he needs to end up finding out is that she's actually got some relation to an old mage family that she never knew about, so he'll keep his cursed mouth shut on that matter. ]
...Ugh. Fine. What do you want?
[ That should be clear enough as an answer, right? ]
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Aah, I hadn't actually thought that far ahead just yet but now you've put me on the spot...
[ Her warm smile turns into a playful little grin. ]
Why don't you take me on a proper date?
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And can you really blame him for that line of thought? In terms of relationship checkpoints, they've gone just a tad further than a "date". Hell, they're even living together. Going on a regular date seems somewhat tame in comparison, doesn't it?
Except then it hits him... that they've never really gone on a proper date, have they? Sure, they've had outings... some of which ending on very intimate notes (Ai's swimsuit look remains thoroughly engraved into his mind, huh), but it's not like he's ever really taken her out anywhere proper. If anything, it's been the other way around, with her dragging him out of the apartment and forcing him to go out as himself instead of the Fairy King. ]
...
[ He brings a hand up to rub the back of his head as he awkwardly averts his gaze. A date... the thought causes hesitation to form in his mind. Though it's several steps behind the base that they're on, something about outright taking Ai on a date is... isn't embarrassing, but Oberon the Liar taking a woman out on a date?
...Or maybe he's overthinking it, and he really shouldn't be worrying about a date of all things after the countless hours he's spent literally plowing her into a broken bed.
God. His curse became so much more annoying once he found his Titania... ]
A Servant and Master going on a date...? That must be a first. [ ...WELL ACTUALLY— ] But fine. I suppose the alternative is "something horrible", right?
[ Said with his usual grin as he hops off of his perch, glancing at her mostly-healed hand. ]
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