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[fulgency]

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[partnerinheels]

Then maybe you should consider a line of edibles and tea for feline turnskins. Just a thought.

[One consession shall be made: meowyjuana is better than catijuana.]

You are terribly humble.

Did you know that people become masters in the art of chocolate? They're called chocolatiers. They have some version of them here too.

[fulgency]

It is certainly a thought. I suppose you shall volunteer yourself as a tester.

I was not aware of such a thing! We shall have to see what these chocolatiers are capable of.

[partnerinheels]

I believe we can come to an arrangement. You're going to have to endure the side effects of your creations first hand, for one.

Time to spend an afternoon taste testing chocolate from across the city.

[fulgency]

I'm certain I can manage however you decide to act.

I shall be certain to set aside the time in the near future.

[partnerinheels]

That sounds like a challenge. Are you up for it?

Just let me know when your schedule allows for tasting delicious chocolate beyond myself.

[fulgency]

Ha! When have I ever not been up for a challenge?

[partnerinheels]

One of the several reasons I enjoy your company. You're very Ozlandish.

[She may have dug into the cookies.]

[fulgency]

Ozlandish?

[partnerinheels]

A play on outlandish.

You're not afraid to be yourself and take on challenges too.

[fulgency]

You've already started eating, haven't you?

[partnerinheels]

Of course I did. You brought this upon yourself.

Also, I was hungry.

[fulgency]

You could have warned me that you were starting your little experiment already. That would have been only fair.

[partnerinheels]

I don't know why you expected me to dally on tasting fresh baked cookies.

They're still warm.

[fulgency]

What would you do with yourself if you could not occupy your time with making such smart remarks to me?

[He means that entirely with fondness, which she should hopefully be able to tell with no sign of irritation or ill mood coming through their Bond even at a distance.]

[partnerinheels]

I suppose I would bother someone else to less enjoyable results.

Also, I likely wouldn't have catnip cookies, which honestly would be another travesty.

[No sass and no baked goods? For shame. Besides, as much as she needles him, there's a friendly fondness that she has for her bond, particularly when they sass at each other.]

[fulgency]

Well, we cannot have you without some form of entertainment. Who knows what sort of trouble you would get yourself into otherwise?

Ah, so I should anticipate less complaining the next time I gift you wish such baked goods?

[partnerinheels]

All sorts of trouble if I were to put genuine effort into making mischief. Oftentimes I take to training or cleaning my guns.

No, that is not a euphemism.

An effort will be made, but no promises. These have cheered me significantly, though.

Please also send jerky with these baked goods. Did you know, they make chocolate covered bacon?

[fulgency]

[Hold on, he's trying to see if he remembers what "bacon" is. He knows he's heard the word before and needs to run through the mental catalog of foods he has been presented with to see if the name matches... Ah! Yes. Archer made this "bacon" a few times. It seemed to be quite popular among some of the other Servants.]

As part of a morning meal? I'm not sure that I would desire chocolate that early in my day.

[He's trying here, Sheva.]

[partnerinheels]

[Welcome to weird things that are created by people from the United States of America.]

As part of a dessert or snack. It’s a combination of savory, salty, and sweet. Not a staple meal by any means.

I believe it’s an American’s creation, from the United States.

[Wouldn’t want to attribute credit incorrectly to another country in the Americas.]

[fulgency]

It would not surprise me if that were the case. Although they appear to hold themselves back somewhat in their unwillingness to cooperate with one another, Americans do seem to carry a certain degree of ingenuity as is befitting of such a young country.

[He's watched a lot of bickering between Edison and Tesla. A lot of bickering. And he doesn't even spend a lot of time with either Servant compared to others.]

In any case, that is an interesting concept for a dessert. I am not certain it is anything I would go looking for myself, but the combination of flavors seems sensible!

[partnerinheels]

Diplomatic as always. My partner on the Kijuju mission was with the American BSAA branch. He was the bond I lost.

[Absently, she wonders what he’d think of her now, eating catnip cookies and talking about chocolate covered bacon. Accepting this new self of hers more and more each day.]

Someone told me that when they return home, they’re back to their normal. The changes that happen here don’t transfer back.

[She’s now forgotten about the bacon, sorry Ozy.]

[fulgency]

[He doesn't mind the change in topic, rolling with it as smoothly as always.]

Yes, it's true. My first Bonded was temporarily returned to this world and although he possessed memories of this place upon his return, it was otherwise as though it had never been while he was in our world.

[In terms of memory and physical changes.]

[partnerinheels]

I still miss Chris, but I'm glad he's no longer here. And that he's back to normal. We didn't take to turning into monsters well as it was our jobs to kill monsters back home.

Different monsters, obviously. But, monsters nonetheless.

The magic here cannot transcend the boundaries of this place, it seems.

Have you ever told me about your first Bonded?

[Now who's getting chatty?]

[fulgency]

I would still assume that it was a comfort to have someone who shared in your perspective and experience. Others are disturbed by their changes, of course, but I cannot imagine they experience it quite as the two of you had.

I do not believe I have. But I would not take that personally, I do not often speak of him.

[And not really out of any particular reason, or so Ozymandias assumes. Arthur is no longer here and he no longer feels the effects of the severance of their Bond, so there is very little reason to discuss him at any length.]

He was another Heroic Spirit, but like the others, he preferred to be known by his Servant class rather than his true name. But for him and by now, it has less to do with hiding his potential weaknesses from enemies, and more to do with his shame. Saber carries with him a tremendous amount of guilt for his past. He even felt guilt for being my enemy once and what became of me after he defeated me in the Holy Grail War we both participated in.

I am less concerned with such things. I do not believe the past should be forgotten, but if the purpose of carrying it is not to continue moving forward, then it is a hindrance and should be discarded. He gained nothing from his self-flagellation and could never understand why I did not hold ill will or a grudge toward him.

[Despite numerous explanations.]

[partnerinheels]

It was, and I miss that level of comfort. Even without the bond, there’s something about going through the hell that was Kijuju together. And with the bond? The connection was stronger.

He was kidnapped and I never saw him again. He was my partner and I should have been able to protect him. That was my job in Kijuju and it never stopped being my priority. I protect my own. To the end if necessary.

[Which includes him at this point, but he’s talking about his bond and she feels that might be a bit much to say when he rarely talks of his bond.]

Guilt is a difficult thing to cease carrying when there’s the blood of so many at your feet and on your hands. Even in one lifetime. Over many? I don’t know how you do it.

The same with grudges, but that is a flaw of mine too. It’s why I joined the BSAA. Or a large part.