Holy Grail War AU Meme.

[unknownrival]

 
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. Add other preferences if you would like. (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!

Comments

Subaru Nakajima (21) | Lyrical Nanoha Force | Master or Servant (Berserker)

[of_the_highest_caliber]

Servant/Servant 5

[nightskysword]

[Of course, upon sighting Berserker, Archer recognized her immediately. The girl never had been good at keeping a low profile.]

...seriously, Nakajima?

[of_the_highest_caliber]

Who? [ That probably isn't the expected response. Her body tense like a spring waiting for release, Subaru stares over at the source of the voice. That name, on those lips, is making her feel nostalgic, but she's not seeing the world through her kind eyes.

No, her rage-filled gaze pierces the shadows on her face with its two shining yellow beacons focused on the other Servant. The threat.

Tonight had been a night of hunting but, indeed, Subaru was no Assassin. She did not care to hide herself. A fight that came to her was still a fight. ]

[nightskysword]

Oh.

[Well, she really should have been expecting this. Knowing a fight was probably inevitable, she flew upward to make it harder for the combat cyborg to reach her.]

If you can hear me at all, I'd really prefer to put this off until you're in your right mind.

[of_the_highest_caliber]

Right mind? [ Moving further back like that only provoked Subaru, who leapt up, bouncing right off of the side of a warehouse building, then onto an escape ladder, before finally running along and hopping atop a disused chimney stack. ] I see cowardice!

[ She brought the palm of one hand up to plant her other fist into, with a heavy sound. ] Aren't you strong?

Don't... don't I know you? [ Those arms are lowered, and she takes a good, hard look at her opponent. ]

[nightskysword]

Strong? The main reason I didn't train you rookies is because I might have killed one of you.

Just calm down, Nakajima. That's an order from your old Vice-Captain.

[of_the_highest_caliber]

[ Her hands were clenched into tight fists, with that choice of words intercepting her on the way toward a calm state of mind. Wrong thing to say, Signum. ] I take no orders from anyone but my Master!

[ She points up. ] And what about now? Won't you fight and kill me now, Archer?

[nightskysword]

[She sighs.]

This is the other reason I didn't teach people.

If I have to, I will, but no one wants that. Not you, not me, and I certainly hope neither of our Masters.

Subaru's Master? | 1

[mysterious_groper]

Oh, yay! It actually worked!

*This may not be in the Top 10 for "worst possible first things for a Servant in a Holy Grail War to hear", but it's GOT to be in the top 100. Especially when the one saying it is possibly the biggest fashion reject Subaru has ever seen, looks like she hasn't slept in a couple of days, smells like she hasn't bathed in a few more days, and has confetti dropping on her from above - when they're in an open park clearing.*

/going for Rider here because of the tech stuff

[of_the_highest_caliber]

[ Amidst the dissipating smoke, Subaru rises from her crouch to her rather unimpressive height. Bright white ribbons from her headband waft in the breeze, the tails of her "skirt" and folds of her vest flutter as well. Her "armor" left a lot to be desired in terms of comfort, and yet she did not look at all cold.

Confused? Just a little. But not cold. ] Huh? [ She brings a gloved hand up, palm out, to catch some of the confetti. And then she... laughed, awkwardly. ] Ahah, I wasn't expecting a welcome like this! [ In more ways than one. ]

Re: /going for Rider here because of the tech stuff

[mysterious_groper]

I mean, I managed to finish the spell without something terrible like me exploding into a thousand tiny pieces happening!

This is great!

[of_the_highest_caliber]

It's a good thing that nothing happened to either of us. That would have cut things short. [ Though now that she mentions it, it's worth looking down and patting herself down to make sure that she made it through 100%.

All systems: green. ] Whew!

[have_hat_will_travel]

Yeah! Without Manastuff you'd poof in like minutes! And that'd be a total downer!

The real question is how this war's going to end up! Do they have the budget for proper insurance this time?

[of_the_highest_caliber]

Budget? Insurance? [ Subaru chuckled. ] I... wish I was as optimistic about it, but I know why you called me here. It was to win this war, so our wishes can be granted. [ She stepped closer, hands gesturing toward the girl. ] The only safety I can promise you is your own, as your servant.

[mysterious_groper]

Yeah, one time they ran a Holy Grail Grand Prix instead because the war caused too much property damage.

I actually don't know how it's gonna go with this, so...

[of_the_highest_caliber]

[ At that mental image, she laughs. ] It'll be a shame if they don't try that again, considering waging war on wheels is my specialty. [ It's an odd sort of modesty. She doesn't say she's unbeatable but, then again, she wouldn't be called Rider if she was anything but an expert on the subject. ]

[mysterious_groper]

Well, good news there given I'm a ranged expert. That could make for a good fight.

EDIT -- "RIDER" CLASS IS OKAY TOO

[of_the_highest_caliber]

[ ooc: sheesh how did I forget the obvious one? /facepalm ]

You know what? We haven't tagged in ages. Let's do this! Servant Saber, 1

[greyerrant]

The sigil that appears before Subaru after her summoning is a huge, complex symbol of an I, and in the center is a kneeling figure in complex armor, wearing a helmet that gives the sword-carrying knight a harsh expression, as though permanently disapproving. He looks up, meeting her eyes, and booms in a voice that seems burdened by many, many years of struggle.

"Are you my Master?"

[of_the_highest_caliber]

Is he really looking 'up' at her? The young woman feels dwarfed by the knight's presence, even though they are not of equal posture. Could she truly command such a force? Would he be obedient?

This was no time for hesitation. She had been preparing for this ritual for quite some time, having now taken her elder sister's place in the line of succession for this family of mages. If she couldn't do this... If she didn't do this, then......

"I am," came the words that interrupted the cold stillness that followed his question, which had hung in the air for far too long. She's new. Nervous. But steeling her will despite all of that and the sense of awe overcoming her. If she had to be honest... this was kind of cool.

"My name is Subaru Nakajima." She brought her right hand up and pulled off the glove that she wore, eyes shifting from his figure briefly in order to catch a glimpse of her new Command Seal before turning that hand over to show it to him, as if for it was there waiting for his approval.

[greyerrant]

The figure eyes the command seal once, and nods, seemingly pleased with the answer.

"Very well then, Subaru Nakajima. I am the servant Saber, and I will be your sword in this shadow war."

He rises to his 8 foot height, armor making whirring noises as he does so, and sheathes his blade. His red eye-slits continue to have the same glow as always, but there is no threat in them, now. He just seems to be sizing her up.

"Do you have orders? Questions? I will do my best to execute the first, and answer the second."

Saber considers Grail War lore as he looks upon his master, wondering at their points of similarity. In these battles, like naturally calls like. So, what is the connection between himself and the young woman? He dismisses the thought of asking, for he is the Servant, and she the Master, and he is nothing if not loyal and obedient to a fault. He chose this willingly, for to be a servant is to forever fight for humanity and justice.

[of_the_highest_caliber]

She raises that hand to the back of her neck, rubbing at the mounting tension in her muscles. This was really a heavy burden. Was she ready? She'll have to be. Even doing this much was already going past the point of no return. "Please, just call me Subaru. We're going to be working together so there's no need to be so specific."

Subaru smiled and nodded. "I understand. I'll never question your loyalty, Saber, because I know your class tends to rank that above all else. It's something we have in common, so I hope we'll get along."

[greyerrant]

Loken nods his head, and removes his helm, exposing a face that is hard, craggy, though well-made, like a sculpture hewn from granite, his grey eyes showing little for the moment beneath his heavy brows. His lips twitch upwards in a subtle little smile, and he meets her eyes with his own, no longer hidden behind the barrier of his helm.

"Yes. Loyalty is everything to me."

He is quiet for a moment, then he'll add her name, his voice less harsh without the metallic tones of the voxcaster.

"Subaru, then."