crowspace | for solomon

Entry tags:

c: sheba,
t: thread

for solomon

[Another day, another summoning. Life goes on, for Solomon as much as anyone, and even with Goetia defeated, there are still problems that need Servants to solve them.]

Hello, I'm here - Your Majesty?!

[Sorry, Ritsuka, you're her new Master and all, but seeing Solomon in the flesh takes precedence. Sheba's ears wiggle, giving away her delight.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[She doesn't have much interest in the Grail, so the odds of her being summoned to a regular Grail War are low, but circumstances are different here.]

And you were a man who wanted for nothing. But I see quite a bit has changed.

...

[ He lets out a sharper little breath, something that isn't quite a laugh--similar, but not there yet. ]

There was one thing. It was only ever the one thing, but it was enough.

[Sheba inclines her head in an obvious question, and gives his hand a squeeze. He can talk about it, if he wants.]

[ The problem is just How To Do It, never mind trying to condense everything. He's silent for a moment as they walk, other than the occasional murmur to point things out: the cafeteria and its attached dining area. The various break rooms. The hallway that leads to the dormitories. Da Vinci's workshop.

Finally, though: ]

I wanted... I suppose, to be the master of my own fate.

I understand.

[In a way that perhaps few others do - she was there. She'd met him, and while he was everything the stories said of him... It was hard not to wonder how much of that was him and how much of that was God's design.]

I'm happy for you, Solomon.

It's been odd!

[ And it's because it's her that he can admit this. Of course Da Vinci knows--very little escapes the genius--and he's sure that both Ritsuka and Mash have guessed. And as much as he hates to think about it, Merlin probably knows, too.

But to say it aloud, and acknowledge it in his own words--that's something he can't just tell anyone. Not even to his own father (maybe especially not to him). But for her... for her, he can. ]

I don't know that it's what I expected, but I'm not ungrateful for this opportunity.

Humanity is odd. It's one of their charm points.

[As she's only half-human herself, perhaps she isn't in the best place to comment. But then, maybe she was closer to humanity than he was, before.]

Your smiles are so much brighter now.

Are they...?

[ What a strange thought. Surely she's right--she's one of the few people who had seen the way he'd been as a king, and his mannerisms then, but... ah, how odd to think about it. ]

If you're the one saying it, then I have no choice but to believe you.

Naturally! I have an eye for all things of value, after all.

[And Solomon's genuine smiles are incredibly precious.]

So you do!

[ No arguments there. Her reputation for that had preceded her, even in life. ]

You might enjoy wrangling the shop with Da Vinci, honestly.

[ And somewhere else in Chaldea, Ritsuka feels a cold shiver go down her spine. ]

Oh, believe me, I already have ideas for new products our Master could make use of.

[say goodbye to your mana prisms Ritsuka]

[ "I'm going to throw him back out into the ocean," Ritsuka is telling Mash somewhere. "I'll drag him back to Antarctica just to shove him facefirst into the snow."

Solomon blinks, and then--he laughs. There's nothing dignified or polite about it: it's a surprised little snort, involuntary and fond. It's nothing like the rare times he'd laughed, before. ]

Why am I not surprised? I'm glad that part of you is the same.

[ Ritsuka's rage continues, far away. ]

[That laugh is adorable and it's patently unfair.]

Not all of us have made such an impressive transformation as you, Solomon.

[She's still the same Sheba he met that day.]

I had some extenuating circumstances.

[ The tour is slowly coming to its end, but he's reluctant, he finds, to stop talking to her, or even let go of her hand. What a strange wonderful thing, to even have desires to act on, rather than having them all quelled before they could become fully-fledged things. ]

But... to be honest, I prefer myself as I am now.

[As for her, you couldn't pay her to let go of his hand right now.]

Are you happy, now?

Happy...?

[ Ah. He has to stop and consider that seriously for a moment, as much as he had the riddles she'd posed, long ago. ]

...

Do you know, I think I am.

[It's as important a question as those riddles, or maybe even more. And just like then, she's delighted to hear his answer.]

Then - I would be honored to be a part of your happiness, Solomon.

[ He pauses for a moment, like he isn't quite sure what to do--but in the end, he lifts his free hand, enough to brush his fingers over the curve of her cheek. ]

I'd say that now that you're here, you are.

[She's so soft and this is illegal??? Her whole face goes red, skin warm under his fingers.]

S-Solomon... It's unfair that you can pull out lines like that with that face...

[But she's definitely not pulling away from his touch.]

[ He might not have his divine cheatsheet any longer, but some things are just kind of muscle memory at this point. This is surely the point where he should pull away, but all he does is laugh, a little embarrassed himself. ]

This is my only face, now. I did wonder, sometimes, what you would have thought of the other one.

I-I'm sure it was equally handsome! Ah, um, I mean...

[Please let the earth swallow her up, thanks.]

[ Oh no... she's cute. ]

I couldn't tell you, to be honest. No one was terribly interested--but I'm sure there are photos. One of the Servants has taken quite a shine to photography.

[ Someone is going to show her the Count Romani Archaman picture and it will be his turn to simply launch himself into the sun rather than face her. ]

Oh, have they? I'd pay to see those.

[Not something she says lightly.]

[ He chokes briefly, but manages to (mostly) smooth that over. ]

Would you? You must really want to see them.

[ Note to self: See if you can scrub the database before Leonardo or Ritsuka can pull those up for her. ]

Of course! When else will I have the opportunity to see candid photos of the great King Solomon?

[She bets you look like a dork in half of them.]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject