Taming The Beast?!?

[shatteredservice]

The room is plain and fairly empty.  A few hours before, it had been a small study, but Set and Dia have cleared all of that stuff out and made it a much more fitting arena to face The Beast in.  After all, he is going to be violent enough when he realizes what they are going to try to do to him.  It probably isn't a good idea to give him access to anything that could be used as ammo.

Dia watches as Set paces around the room checking the various wards that he placed on it when they moved in.  They aren't anything special--just a few detection runes--but they were never meant to do anything like keeping The Beast in check.  The Beast himself has seen to it that Set can't do anything like that.  That is why Bazett is stopping by.  She doesn't have to try and work around The Beast to do her work; she can just do it.

Set flops down into a cross-legged sit in the middle of the floor and sighs, "I think that's it until she comes.  Hopefully, it won't be too long.  I think he's starting to wonder.  I'm trying to distance myself, but..."

Dia nods, fingering the capped needle in his hand, "I'm really sorry about this.  I hate having to do it."

"Don't be, it has to be done and this is the safest way.  Just promise me something," Set gives him a hard look.  "Make sure you make the most of this.  You need to talk to him.  I doubt he's going to let us get away with this very often.  Heck,  maybe not ever again.  This might be the only chance we get."

"I-I know," Dia's voice wavers a moment and then he steadies himself.  "I am preparing myself.  It's going to hurt, but hopefully it will be the first step toward making it so it doesn't hurt so much anymore."

Set smirks and motions for Dia to come and sit with him.  When Dia joins him, he wraps his arms around his lover, "That's my Baby!  You have no idea how good it makes me feel to hear you say that."

Dia blushes slightly, but doesn't reply.  Instead, they wait for Bazett to again make her way into their home.

Comments

[answerer_sword]

"The only way I can think of it bringing out the Beast and showing them."

She shakes her head.

"But that might be too dangerous.

[shatteredservice]

Set laughs, "With how much he dislikes them? Oh hell yeah, that would be a bad idea. It would be handing them just what they want because it would be too much for him to resist taking a swipe at them even if he knows better. He may be lucid at times, but he's still mostly animal at heart. They tease and he's going to bite back, hard."

"However, in an effort to be open and look like we are still working with them, it might not be a bad idea for me to talk to someone about this. If nothing else, it could serve as a distraction," Dia points out. "And I know you don't like me speaking with them, Set, but I think this time should be an exception. Again, if nothing else, it might throw them a little bit and that will make things easier for Bazett."

[answerer_sword]

She stays silent as she watches them discuss.

"And what will you do if they trust you too much? If they believe that the Beast can be controlled to a degree, what would they think about you?"

[shatteredservice]

Dia looks at her a little confused, "What do you mean what about me? Do you think they might try placing a geis on me as well since it worked so well with The Beast?"

"Or perhaps she is worried that they might decide you aren't necessary anymore," Set's eyes narrow. "That is something that worries me as well. Before you were vital to controlling The Beast. If they get the idea they don't need you anymore..."

[answerer_sword]

"That would only be the worst case scenario. Or could we risk that in order to have surveillance lowered? You told me that they provoked Servants into breaking their Contracts. Would they wait until they find a way, then?"

[shatteredservice]

"I don't know if they would try to provoke me. I would think by now that they know that I'm pretty hard to provoke," Dia nervously rubs the back of his neck. "Most likely if they really decided to get rid of me, I would just disappear. Still, I think it would probably be worth the risk. I don't know if they would do anything to me until they have solid proof that the geis works to control The Beast. Then they probably would want to find the one who set it so they could set one that keeps him from hurting them as well."

"That one will be much harder on them," Set's voice has a hint of a growl in it. "If they do anything to you, neither The Beast or I will be accepting anything. They are going to have to find someone with enough ability to put something into place without either of our consent. It can be done, of course, but with a servant's magic resistance in play it will be much, much harder to get it to stick."

[answerer_sword]

"If you were targeted, I could try searching the Association's properties. I do not know how successful I would be compared to just searching their files, but I would try to find you if you were still alive in some way."

It goes without saying that she try to avenge him on the Association if he died.

[shatteredservice]

"Thank you. I appreciate it, Bazett. If they were foolish enough to try and do something to me, I am sure that you and Set would avenge me. Of this I have no doubt," Dia smiles at them both. "Of course, you would have a reason to want to be successful too. Do you really want to be stuck dealing with him alone for the rest of your life?"

Set doesn't say anything, but he does grin at her like a maniac just in case she's forgotten what being around him is like with how serious they have been tonight.

[answerer_sword]

She recoils.

"I believe it would end very violently. And perhaps tragically. Even if bystanders would find it humorous."

[shatteredservice]

"Awww...come on now Lass, are you so sure we couldn't be happy together?" The grin is still on Set's face as he reaches out to ruffle her hair.

Perhaps worried that his kitchen might be wrecked again if he actually does let Set follow through on his plans, Dia catches a hold of his lover's wrist to stop him, "I suppose I should be honored that apparently I am so necessary to your two's continued good working relationship. So why do I feel like a babysitter all the sudden?"

[answerer_sword]

"Perhaps because Ireland's greatest hero insists on behaving like a child at times."

She smiles.

"Perhaps if I help you get a leash..."

[shatteredservice]

Set sputters indignantly at the leash comment, but Dia just laughs and actually blushes a little.

"See, I told you!" Dia insists once he stops laughing enough to talk. "The collar looked good on you and if you had gotten it, well your little lady could be leading you around right now!"

[answerer_sword]

Meanwhile, Bazett, having actually made a joke, blushes beet red.

"I think...Diarmuid and I would have to take turns, would we not?"

[shatteredservice]

Dia laughs again and shakes his head, "You lead him and I'll take the blackmail pictures. Maybe we will get him to act like an adult yet!"

"Hey, hey come on now! This isn't fair," Set is almost pouting. "What did I do to deserve you two teaming up against me?"

"Oh hush, honestly!" Dia leans forward and gently kisses Set on the cheek. "You would love every moment of it. Stop being such a baby."

"Yeah, but..."

"No buts! How old are? Seriously, I'm starting to forget."

[answerer_sword]

"Thirty. He was said to be thirty years old upon his death."

She is surprised at how quickly and painlessly this detail has come into her mind.

[shatteredservice]

Both Dia and Set stop laughing and look at her, surprised.

"That's right, Lass," Set's grin turns into a warm smile. "Well, I didn't really keep track, but that's what all the stories say. I thought you didn't remember any of that though. Have you had more memories return?"

[answerer_sword]

"Only bits and pieces...related to you."

She is blushing and trying to curl into a ball again.

[shatteredservice]

Set laughs and this time manages to avoid Dia and ruffle Bazett's hair, "That's a good start, Lass! I mean, the Grail made it sound like you had spent a lot of effort learning everything you could about me. If that is starting to come back, then hopefully some more personal things might not be far behind."

"Perhaps you were trying too hard before?" Dia asks. "What exactly are you remembering now? Don't try to force anything. Just say what comes to mind. If you don't force it maybe things will just link together naturally."

[answerer_sword]

"Stories."

She closes her eyes.

"Your stories. You were...born in a fairy hill. You defeated all of the Boy Troops of Emain Macha. Afterwards, you slew the great hound from which you took your name. Then, you took arms, though you knew by doing so, you would be destined to a short but glorious life. Your charioteer was Laeg and you had two fairy horses born the same day as you."

[shatteredservice]

Dia grins and pokes at Set good-naturedly, "And you called me a fairy because of who raised me. See, you are just as bad, fairy boy."

Set laughs, "Yes, but I don't cook and clean like a good little housewife now, do I?" Set ducks when Dia moves to mock hit him and then turns back to Bazett. "Those things are pretty well known, though, Lass. Is there anything in there that might not have been provided by the Grail or a book? I'm sure there must be something. Just don't push too hard. My Baby is probably right about that."

[answerer_sword]

"You left your relics in many places in Ulster. Relics that were taken by churches, or broken down to become parts of houses."

In a way, it was a fitting place for them. The relics of a hero being used to hold up the structures of his country.

"But there were things in private collections. I guess I had access to one, because I...found...one of them."

Which one, she cannot recall.

"Or was it two?"

[shatteredservice]

Set nods, his eyes growing distant for a moment as he thinks back to the days of his first life, "Well, that would depend, Lass. We have already pretty much decided that the earrings are likely relics. If you still have possession of my father's sword like the Grail told me you did when I was summoned, then that would be two."

"Of course, that sword is probably closer to a Mystic Code or Noble Phantasm by now so I don't know if calling it a relic is quite fair," Dia points out. "It may not have a normal physical existence anymore."

[answerer_sword]

"It is both. At least, in my current state. Fragarach, the Answerer. But it would be more your father's relic that yours. I cannot recall any legend saying you owned the blade."

[shatteredservice]

Set smiles, "That is true. That blade and I never got along. When it comes to weapons, sometimes you know just by touching them when they aren't for you. It never really bothered me though. I had Gae Bolg. It was all I needed being the best after all."

"Do you happen to remember how you got it, Bazett? Or how it came to be so strongly tied to you that it became your Noble Phantasm?" Dia takes a sip of his tea, thinking for a moment. "If we could find a way to help you remember that, I bet it would be a big key to finding out more about your legend."

[answerer_sword]

"I cannot remember. I know I had it longer than I had his relics, and from its abilities, I can assume I did not use it much in battle."

Plus, sometimes it felt less like a weapon than it was part of her. Like it was an organ of some sort.