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[painalty]

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charles-henri sanson ⬤ fate/
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[painalty]

Not really, but... [He pauses, rubbing his upper arm and shifting from foot to foot. Though this world was clearly not the site of a Holy Grail War, he still had his hangups about his true name.]

I don't like talking about myself.

[That's a mild way of putting it.]

[tigerpoet]

...That's a feeling I can understand.

[He was lucky that he wasn't particularly famous in his lifetime, and when he's at the library, he fades into the background next to people like Dazai and Akutagawa... But here, plenty of people make enough of a fuss about Atsushi that he misses those days of relative anonymity.

And he doesn't even have anything particularly scandalous on his Wikipedia page.]

Do you write?

[It's a weird segue, but bear with him.]

[painalty]

Hmm? [Despite being relatively obscure, Charles nevertheless keeps his guard up. You never know when a French person with extensive enough knowledge of history would show up and reveal his true name to everyone else.

But he is learning, little by little, that it doesn't matter as much as he thinks it does.

The segue catches him a bit off-guard, but it's something he can answer without hesitating.]

Oh, nothing beyond keeping a diary. I'm trying to get back into that habit while I'm here, though.

[tigerpoet]

A diary is just as valuable as any other kind of writing.

Caster is bad at taking compliments, but he'll accept them if it's about his poetry. So now you know his weakness.

[Use this power for good, Assassin.]

[painalty]

That's...

[He never did peg Avicebron as a poet, probably because the Caster was nothing like Shakespeare or Andersen. A soft laugh escapes him before he can stifle it, and there is a twinkle of amusement in his eyes.]

That's interesting. I'll keep that in mind.

[Even though he'd really rather not think of himself as taking advantage of someone's weakness.]

[tigerpoet]

You're welcome. Of course, you didn't hear this from me.

[He loves Avicebron, but sometimes that means being a tiny bit mean to him.]

[painalty]

I understand.

[He nods very slowly, a small knowing grin etched on his face. Anyway, Atsushi can count on his new acquaintance being a good keeper of secrets.]

We'll see if I get an opportunity to read his poetry.

[Their social link is not yet high enough for that.]

[tigerpoet]

I highly recommend it if you get the chance. Both his secular and liturgical poems are stunning.

[He has a collection of those poems, but Charles can't have it, it's his to reread over and over again.]

[fonsvitae]

[ Then there's the abrupt click of the door unlocking, and it swings open. Avicebron peeks out, staring at one of them, then other, then back. His confused frown is audible. ]

... what are you doing out here.

[ Fortunately(?), he hasn't actually overheard any of their conversation. He'd been deeply engrossed in his work, only just made aware of the socialization happening outside his door, and had looked out the peephole wondering why on earth people were being a nuisance in his vicinity.

Atsushi and Sanson. A rather odd pair. ]

[painalty]

[He falls silent when he hears the door click open, and can only watch as Avicebron comes out.

Luckily, Sanson is a master of smoothing his expression over to not give away any detail of what he and Atsushi had been discussing.]

Hello, Caster. I had hoped to pay you a visit when I ran into Atsushi here.

[tigerpoet]

[Upon seeing Avicebron, Atsushi's expression lights up. If there was any doubt that Atsushi is very fond of Avicebron, that right there would prove otherwise, because Atsushi has no poker face whatsoever.]

I had the same idea at the same time, and we happened to run into each other. I was just telling him about how wonderful your poetry is!

[...and clearly no concept of why he maybe shouldn't admit to that so easily. He didn't tell Charles his name so it's fine? He's been good?]

[fonsvitae]

[ Sanson's answer is not entirely surprising, and thus answered with a small nod. But Atsushi's earns a tiny, muffled grunt and a slight dip of the head. Not entirely displeased, but ... a little ruffled, perhaps. ]

... well, you're free to come in. It's cold.

[ Yes, Servants are immune to the weather, but Atsushi probably isn't. And regardless, it's the proper thing to do, he supposes. Avicebron pushes the door open so they can come in. A wave of the hand, and the humanoid golem that had been sweeping the hallway sets aside the broom to stride towards the kitchen. ]

I can offer you tea or wine.

[ Those are, like, literally the only two things he has in his kitchen, okay. ]

[painalty]

[Sanson hadn't expected Atsushi to divulge the part about the poetry THAT promptly, but perhaps it was a demonstration of how close he and Caster had become. After all, Caster didn't seem too disgruntled about it.

Aware that Atsushi is most likely not a Servant, Sanson allows him to enter first. His attention is drawn briefly to the golem inside.]

Oh...thank you. Tea is fine.

[tigerpoet]

Tea would be wonderful, thank you.

[Atsushi very much can and does get cold, so he won't think twice about stepping inside.]

I hope we haven't disturbed you.

[fonsvitae]

You haven't. I was working, but it wasn't anything important.

[ There's the sounds of movement from the kitchen as the golem starts brewing tea. ]

... I take it you haven't any particular business with me this time, either?

[ Said with a curious tilt of the head as he regards his two guests. It hasn't quite sunk with him that these are wellness checks, so he can't quite fathom what they get from these sporadic visits. ]

[painalty]

Not particularly. I just thought of seeing how you were, since it has been a while since we saw each other.

[He can't help but try to steal a glance in the kitchen to look at the golem brewing tea, but it's difficult to get a good view, so he eventually turns back to Avicebron and Atsushi.]

[tigerpoet]

[Even though he knows that the golems can't feel anything, Atsushi still wants to give that golem a pat on the head for its hard work... Alas.]

It's the same for me. I'm always happy to see you even without particular business.

[fonsvitae]

[ Avicebron, of course, pays the golem absolutely no attention as it goes about its task. ]

I see. Well ... make yourselves comfortable.

[ He says, like that's possible when the only furniture other than his workbenches and tables is a few regular chairs. ]

Though you've no obligation to discuss my work any further.

[painalty]

[Sanson doesn't complain about comfort; at least there were places to sit.]

I'm sorry. [Even though he wasn't the one who brought it up in the first place.] Anyway, I hope you've been well, Caster. Despite...ah, how this world operates.

[Moon cycles can be a butt.]

[tigerpoet]

It's not an obligation to discuss some of the best poetry I've read in my life or afterlife, Caster.

[Comfort? What's that? He's too focused on being a huge nerd to care about anything else.]

It's rare to see a writer who works so masterfully in both short and long form, who can draw beauty out of any object he describes and capture the essence of human emotion in the same poem. Praising your work is nothing less than a joy for me.

[Sometimes... you just get a really big writer crush... and want to tell everyone...]

[fonsvitae]

[ He was just returning to his main workbench, planning on resuming fiddling with a little bird golem he's been improving, but pauses at that. ]

I've been well enough. I'm proud of my work, certainly. And it's good to hear it's appreciated. But it was not 'the best' in any way.

[ The golem brings over tea for the two of them. It's ... fine. It's adequate.

Avicebron takes a seat, picking up a half-complete wing made of leaves and sticks. ]

Of course, all Heroic Spirits have left their mark on history. But we're also quite aware of our standing -- the true magnitude of our fame and influence. Mine is exceedingly modest. You understand what I mean, don't you ... Assassin.

[ Looking for some low-rarity solidarity here. That pause was only because, on second thought, he's not sure if Sanson declared his true name to Atsushi. He has a good reason to want to keep his under wraps, after all. ]

[painalty]

[That IS a huge writer crush, but Sanson says nothing about that. Not only is he going to cut Avicebron some slack, he really has no business commenting when he hasn't even read the Caster's poetry in the first place.

The fact that Avicebron takes a certain degree of pride in it should be enough. At least he could be proud of what he does...because Sanson certainly is never proud of what he had done to earn his place in the Throne of Heroes. Calling himself a Heroic Spirit seems so ironic. Not only was his role in history obscure enough that not all accounts of the French Revolution remember him by name, but he was no hero in the first place. Just a man who had one of the most unpleasant jobs in the world and who could not escape his destiny.

It's as if a cloud has descended upon Sanson as he ponders this, his expression suddenly more...thoughtful at best, and brooding at worst.]

I understand what you mean, Caster. There's no point in self aggrandizement when history, or myth, or legend have already judged us for the roles we've played.

[tigerpoet]

[Sorry, Charles. Atsushi would like to turn this back to something Charles can comment on, but first he needs to insist that Avicebron Is Great Actually.]

That's certainly true for many heroes... It's hard to argue the relative importance of a king, or a general, or a myth.

[A king can't make himself out to be a better king if he's only a footnote in the history books.]

But as an artist, the quality of your work is more subjective, even if there may be some consensus about your lasting influence. And I personally love your work very much.

[And that's something Avicebron can't disprove or argue against.]

[fonsvitae]

[ At least Avicebron is quick to realize his mistake. His hair shifts when he looks up sharply upon noticing that change in Sanson's demeanor.

Aah, of course. Perhaps bringing up one's qualifications as a Heroic Spirits was a bad idea with Sanson present. Understandable, but tricky to deal with. Especially while also addressing Atsushi's comments, and without accidentally revealing Sanson's identity.

He's starting to remember how much of a pain other people are, but Avicebron silently reminds himself to be patient. He'd resolved to better himself, after all. ]

Mm. But I don't particularly believe in dwelling on one's past achievements, either. Idleness and stagnation are the enemies of any creator. Continual progress ... what one does in the present is of far more importance.

[ Shooting Sanson a Glance as he says that. ]

[painalty]

[He catches that Glance, all right, and he slowly loosens up. Avicebron had a point, and even though his mood had tanked a little during their conversation, Sanson remembers that he had resolved to do better with his second life - to be more than what he was fated to be when he was born into his family as the fourth generation in a line of executioners.

Wasn't that why he had sought a job as a doctor here, and strove to practice medicine more often?

Folding his arms over the table, he nods vigorously.]

...Of course. Thank you for reminding me.

[Even if his past achievements...weren't what he would call achievements.]

After all, you and I have been granted second lives.