IC INTRO - MARCH

[phantasmods]

Sometime after the showdown, those with communication devices from the station will all get a collective message -

Okay, everyone come back! We might need to do a final sweep or two of the beach, but it looks like most of the Fissure is stabilized! °˖✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧˖°

Everybody go ahead and come back up - and bring anyone else you found with you! I know I saw a couple new faces on the drone cameras. (*･▽･*)

Also, if you get a chance, check out the new door leading out of the residential area! It's a surprise for all your hard work. (´◕ ◡ ◕｀) There's also food in the kitchens if you're hungry and want something warm!

With that in mind, grab your new friends and go ahead and come on back.

STATION EXTERIOR

Upon returning to the station, the first thing most will probably see is Up, standing on the rooftop to congratulate everyone on a mission accomplished and also handle any questions the new arrivals might have that haven't gotten answered yet. They stand tall and graceful beside the ramp... Most of the time. Occasionally, one might catch them trying not to fidget with the belt that now hangs fashionably askew on their hips.

For those who want to seek out the surprise Charm promised, there's a second ramp leading down off the far side of the roof, as well as the door he mentioned on the network. Both lead to the shiny new viewing deck, with its mismatched furniture, half-roof, and view of the beach.

Charm himself is here, long android limbs spread across one of the lounge chairs as he fiddles with one of the wind element crystals in his lap. It occasionally reacts and blasts the tails of his red scarf in random directions, but he doesn't seem to mind.

STATION INTERIOR

Those adventuring to the kitchens will find that there are four large pots arranged in a line beneath a set of heat lamps on the stove. Three contain curry - labeled "mild," "spicy," and "the fire of a thousand suns" in neat handwriting - while the last contains plain rice. An assortment of mismatched bowls and utensils sit on the counter nearest the pots. (Welcome to Keystone Station, you'll have an easier time finding matching cutlery at your local Goodwill.)

In the common room, meanwhile, the boxes of clothes and trading post are set up again. Those who investigate something fluffy in a particular box on the end of the couch may discover a girl and friend taking a nap...

Comments

[riderofcharlemagne]

[It is a very fine blade, and matches the aesthetics and style of Astolfo perfectly. It's also the perfect size for his height, unlike the sword he'd been borrowing previously.]

If it's here, then it's not where it was before. [A pause.] With the person I left it to.

[founderinglight]

[...Ah, yes, that would explain it. Izunia frowns, but it's an understanding sort of frown.]

Then let's hope that whenever it came here from was after your friend's need for it has passed.

[riderofcharlemagne]

Yeah. [He tightens his grip around it in an attempt to steel himself. He looks back to Izunia with a smile, albeit a weak one.] There's not much else I can do here otherwise, is there?

[founderinglight]

[Izunia just nods, and then some of the solemnness of his expression passes.]

If you want to talk about it, I've gotten fairly good at listening.

[riderofcharlemagne]

There's not too much to say. [There's perhaps a lot to explain, the Great Holy Grail War, the nature of his existence, the rules between masters and servants, the existence of homunculi...but at the heart of it, what he's concerned about is rather simple.] I wanted to save someone. To make that possible, this guy- Saber- sacrificed himself. I can't let that have been in vain. I want to help that boy for as long as I can. That's why I gave him that sword, even if I couldn't protect him, he could at least protect himself.

[He's an open person, sure, but it's no small gesture that he's comfortable enough with Izunia to tell him all of this.]

[founderinglight]

[It's always more complicated than that. Don't worry, he gets it.]

Then I'm certain that he's safe. It's not the kind of thing that one lets out of their sight, otherwise.

[riderofcharlemagne]

[Izunia's certainty is comforting enough to reassure him for now.]

Yeah, you're right. He's probably safe and wouldn't need to defend himself anymore.

[Completely opposite to how he last saw him, but he won't concern himself with that right now.]

[founderinglight]

[True, but if anyone knows how situations can turn around fast, it's Izunia.]

Every dark night comes to an end eventually, after all.

[Let's keep each others' spirits up, yeah?]

[riderofcharlemagne]

Yeah, yeah you're right.

[He nods. Though he set out to help Izunia with being more optimistic, he's showing himself at being none too shabby in inspiring it in others.]

...Can I ask something of you?

[founderinglight]

Of course?

[It's a little surprised. It's been a long time since anyone asked anything of him, after all.]

[riderofcharlemagne]

[Though spurred by his memories of Sieg and the war, Astolfo is thinking only about the present now. The people he's met here, that he's begun to care for...he doesn't want to be in another situation where there's nothing he can do to help them.]

I want you to help me get stronger.

[There's unmistakable determination in his voice. After all, when his heart is set on something, there's little anyone can do to stop him.]

[founderinglight]

[There's a pause, and then Izunia smiles in a way that is, perhaps, just a shard uncanny, a little too much predatory.]

Then I am ever at your disposal.

[riderofcharlemagne]

[He definitely notices a strangeness in Izunia's smile, but, then again, Izunia's kind of a strange guy. He's not too unsettled by it, especially because he did agree to his request.]

Thank you!

[He bows deeply in appreciation, and then bounces back up, and places clenched fist over his chest in a pledge.]

I promise to be a worthwhile student!

[founderinglight]

Oh, I don't think we need to be that formal. After all, you're probably going to have to suffer through my experiments with combat magic for it.

[And also his general Lucis-Caelum-ness. Hopefully Astolfo isn't going to get frustrated by rarely hitting anything.]

Magic and agility are my strong suits, but I'm at least passable with most traditional melee weapons. A sword like that shouldn't be much of a problem.

[riderofcharlemagne]

It'll only make it all the more satisfying when I get the upper hand.

[If he can learn to hit a warping Izunia, he could surely take on any Servant.]

I'm pretty weak in most areas, save for riding...that's why I'm asking this of you. I'll need you to put me through everything you've got.

[Whilst he can't raise his own parameters to any significant affect, he can surely work around those limitations as best he can.]

[founderinglight]

Don't sell yourself short.

[And the smile this time is... utterly different from the faintly predatory one of a few moments before. It's warm and touched by the steady shine of the stars, unchanging in its confidence. The words of a king, to those who know how to hear such a thing.]

In strength of heart, there are none against whom you'd be outmatched.

[riderofcharlemagne]

[For a rare moment, Astolfo is speechless.]

...Really?

[He knows that, immediately upon looking at Izunia, he has no reason to question his words. Yet, how a man like Izunia could see this value in him, he can't begin to understand.]

That...means a lot, coming from you.

[founderinglight]

To not lose oneself to despair is a task I have seen set to many people. It's a skill you excel at.

[One he doesn't really have, himself, but he's trying.]

[riderofcharlemagne]

[He half-sighs, half-chuckles.]

Some might call it a skill, others might call it foolishness. [He's glad that Izunia's part of the former group.] I simply can't imagine taking another approach to things.

[founderinglight]

I've walked alongside Despair long enough that I find anyone at all to be better company. Unfortunately, she still enjoys sneaking up when I least expect it.

[riderofcharlemagne]

Ah, but in a life of nothing but joy, one couldn’t truly appreciate it. [Still, he feels his heart sink a little at the thought of how much his friend must have been through.] Anyway, it’s not like you’re walking alone anymore.

[founderinglight]

...No, I'm not.

[It's the tone of someone who is still damned surprised about that fact, but... there's a smile.]

[riderofcharlemagne]

[Izunia's surprise at the fact he has friends will forever be bittersweet, but the smile brings a warm joy to Astolfo.]

I'll do my best to make sure you won't be again.