NOTE: All dividers are numbered. Take a break when you want to in each Fragment!
8/17/2018 Note - Season 1 (Fragment 1 - 21 + Supplement Their Guiding Light) is undergoing Spring Cleaning. They're showing their age back when they were first written (2016), but I'm uncertain when I'll clean up will be finished. Until then, it'll likely feel a bit stiff and have occasional typos. While I'd like to fix their issues sooner rather than later, time is a commodity don't have very much of.
However, you can still read it just fine. It's like FGO's story, in a sense: It gets better after the rough and tumble beginning (Fuyuki - Septem). So if you read through the stiff Season 1 and like what you see, the seasons and supplement beyond will likely keep your attention.
Completed cleans: Fragments 9 (partial), 10, 13, and Their Guiding Light.
Footsteps echoed down the blue-tinted hallways of Chaldea. Large tiles made up most of the floor, matched by panels attached to the opposing walls. Aesthetical glass struts protruded from the sides of the hallway on one side. On the opposite wall, the emblem of Chaldea was placed on certain panels to break the mundane wall, appearing once every few ceiling lights. Doors, potted plants, benches, and intersecting corridors also helped to break the monotony of the rather modernistic hallway.
It was the same corridor design used by most of Chaldea's hallways, which required a map to properly navigate for newcomers. The employees, all of which were now veterans, never needed it past their own respective second week. Guiding maps were just wasted paper now, since only servants had been arriving since the Fuyuki incident. Rarely did the hallway design deviate, except for a few exceptions like the topmost corridor that had windows to showcase spectacular view of the surrounding landscape.
A group of employees appeared from an intersecting corridor. As standard for workers in the facility, the trio wore matching white formal jackets with black pants, or an optional skirt and leggings for the ladies. Their jackets sported gray accents in contrast to the near-pure white tops of the master's uniform. Their white collared dress shirts were paired with different colored ties which depicted their matching division.
There were three separate colors for the individuals in the group. One black-haired man's orange tie proved he was from Engineering, while a brunette female's turquoise indicated they belonged to Magecraft. A green one on the blonde female stated their employment in the Science Division. It wasn't uncommon to see groups of mixed divisions during off-hours or food breaks, especially after many had been shifted to different stations with the significant loss of personnel; The fully activated robotics reserve helped to stabilize the understaffed facility.
A fourth employee passed by as one of Chaldea's robots turned a corridor further ahead. This one's top was noticeably different from her colleagues as she walked by them with a small smile. Her unique, black top denoted her position as a Leyshift Operator, with her home division's color sported on the front and cuffs. The turquoise was separated from the black jacket with silver accents, with the logo of Chaldea present on the upper left arm and zipper. There were still other uniforms within the organization, but those were only worn by key individuals in each division.
One such person walked towards the conversing group with a new servant by his side.
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Fragment 1: The French Revelation
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Without hesitation, the group shifted to the right side of the hallway as the pair of individuals approached. The duo consisted of a green-eyed, young man carrying a stack of books and a female companion of young age carrying a large, ornate flag. Her lengthy, blonde locks were tied in a braid that reached to her thighs, which made the man's orange ponytail seem minuscule in comparison. His long, white lab coat had a turquoise design down the front and came with accompanying pearly white boots, pants, and gloves.
In stark contrast, the cerulean-eyed woman was covered in a navy blue, from her leggings to her undershirt. The cape was also similarly colored save for the white crosses and upper accents. Her gleaming, silver armor covered much of her arms and torso, with matching boots and a head protector in identical material. An ornate sword hung at her hip, barely noticeable under the large cape.
The group of employees turned their heads as one while they passed, but continued walking forward. They quickly looked to each other and began murmuring in excitement. Slowly, the armored blonde looked back to the fading group and lightly smiled, which no one noticed except for her current walking partner. She quickly turned back after realizing he had stopped talking.
"I apologize, Doctor Roman. I just overheard them talking about me." the young woman explained.
"Nothing negative I hope," the doctor stated, giving a small glance behind them.
"Oh, nothing of the sort. They were excited to see me," the woman beamed back.
The man chuckled lightly. "Can you blame them? It's not every day you get to see the famous Saint Jeanne d'Arc in person!"
The ruler smiled back. "I guess this is true. Though, I still prefer not being called a saint… I'm truly sorry for the interruption. You were saying?"
"Ah, I was just rambling. Our luck has been terrible until this week. Usually the system would generate craft coins or present memorial essences for servants... but to think we'd get another new servant of such prestige so soon after King Arthur is amazing! August is looking up!" exclaimed the man with accompanying hand gestures from his free limb.
"Please, you're embarrassing me," Jeanne spoke firmly, though with a bashful smile.
"Sorry, sorry," Roman added quickly. "Usually Gudao would be the one guiding and praising, but as stated back in the summoning chamber, he had to take care of an emergency at the training grounds. Ah, but I digress. We've arrived at your room!"
The doctor stopped walking and used his free hand to extract a card from his pocket. He held it up to a computerized scanner next to the door, receiving an automated beep in response followed by a green light flaring to life. The door slid open as the man presented his companion the key card, which she graciously took with a small nod.
"We've got extras in case you misplace your own. As easy as I imagine it is to go into spirit form to enter a locked room, we like to ensure the quality of life of our guests," Roman stated before smiling. "If you need anything, there's a video intercom in each room. The info packets and maps are in the drawer next to your bed. Gudao will give you a tour once he finishes the mountain of paperwork that has likely just accumulated. I'm definitely looking forward to working with you!"
With that, Doctor Roman nodded and walked back down the hallway. She smiled lightly as she caught him mumbling about scolding Gudao for making him feel like a hotel manager, before she slipped into her room. The door quickly slid shut behind her.
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The rooms of each servant were identical to that of Master Gudao's own; Most previously belonged to the other master candidates that perished during the Fuyuki incident, while the rest remained vacant. Some were simply unused due to the organization's overestimation for the number of masters they may require in the future, up to a total of a hundred. Some larger servants and blood-related ones had to take residence elsewhere or get "creative" with room sizes.
The room itself was nearly empty save for a few pieces of movable furniture. The bed was very simple and came with two, fluffy pillows. Its arched rear supports matched its gently curving side guards, but the front lacked this design in favor of two sturdy legs. The sheets were all white to match the rest of the room. Polished, smooth white floors were glistened from the ceiling's illumination. The lights were shaped differently with bars on one side and pentagons on the other, both symmetrically designed for the styles. Plants were placed sporadically with only basic concern for decor.
Extra conveniences were even included in the room to make it feel less like a barracks, with the most notable being a small beverage dispenser to make hot water for tea or coffee. The intercom and drawer were adjacent to the bed, and a simple glass table with a single support was attached to the wall on the opposite side. Some empty shelves lined the wall near the door and a large, built-in display case faced its opposite. Next to the display case was a single door leading to the private bathroom which had an open glass shower, counter sink, and western toilet. Otherwise the room was, by proper definition, incredibly basic.
"Let's see..."
Jeanne sat with perfect posture on the bed with one of the brochures in her hand, quietly humming to herself. Her battle regalia remained on, though the cape had been removed. They didn't usually have clothing immediately available for newly arrived servants, but she didn't mind since she wasn't expecting that luxury. It was gracious enough that the service was available for her, and she was interested in having some clothes for herself after experiencing it during a past war.
She would never forget that kind soul. 'Thank you for the memories, Laeticia.'
Her thoughts shifted back as she turned a page to continue her current task of brainstorm furniture ideas. She was surprised to find that besides custom-fit clothing, Chaldea also has a Furniture Department whose original purpose was repairing damaged items from potentially reckless or angry servants; They probably had the berserkers in mind. A few servants had voiced some complaints about room simplicity and gave plenty of ideas for expansion, or demands depending on who you asked.
Suddenly the Engineering Division's small branch found itself busy with work, not those specific technicians had very much to do previously. She supposed she could get a few pieces to make the room her own, but she wouldn't want to cause them immense amounts of additional workload. She smiled slightly and pondered about the mysterious nature of the event Roman called "The Furnishing Hurricane".
The furniture selection was surprisingly diverse, though aesthetically basic, but that was to be expected; They were technicians first, not artisans in furniture. She was only really interested in a table and chairs, as well as possibly a flag holder so her standard could remain materialized. Surely the latter was a simple request that could be fulfilled easily. She hoped the Clothing Department would be fine with her future clothing order, but those shouldn't be much more complicated. She was a simple girl after all.
Her thoughts were interrupted with soft knocking on her door. She looked at the time on the intercom's screen and noted it was already half past two in the afternoon. Had she really been in her room for an hour just staring at the packets? She let out a small sigh at her distracted state and quickly made her way to the door. While pondering how busy Gudao seemed to be, she soon questioned which servant signature stood outside, for it seemed… familiar.
"Hello? How may I help-" The door slid open as fast as her eyes lit up.
Standing on the other side with a smile like diamonds was another woman with long, pearly white hair that hung back in two long tails. Two bangs framed her face that held crystal blue eyes. She wore a red sundress which exposed much of her porcelain-skinned arms. One of her legs was crossed behind the other, letting her red slippers line up perfectly. The woman in question let out a giggle and swiftly leaned forward to hug the surprised but happy blonde.
"Vive la France~!" the woman cried happily while hugging her friend. "I came the second I learned of your room, Jeanne!"
The Maid of Orleans smiled and hugged back. "I didn't know you were here too, Marie! I would have come to see you first."
Marie pulled out of the hug, her smile still beaming brightly. "Oh, non non! Worry not. You were just getting settled in! No rush... though I have to say, you've taken my advice in the singularity to heart. It's good to see you a little less serious."
"I'm still getting used to enjoying myself, but I believe it will be easier with familiar faces," Jeanne nodded happily. "Did Doctor Roman or Master tell you I was here?"
"Roman told me the room number when I bumped into him, but word spreads fast in this place. I was told you arrived by one of the Magecraft employees from the summoning room. Orange hair? Maybe you've talked with Gabrielle? She helps operate the room with Tesla when Gudao want to attempt a summo- Oh look at me, rambling again."
Jeanne chuckled before tilting her head slightly in thought. "Ah, so I guess everyone knows then?"
Marie nodded enthusiastically. "Gudao is beyond busy thanks to Roman. I'll bet he apologized firmly for not being able to give you a proper tour?"
Jeanne nodded. Marie giggled before continuing. "Don't think anything of it, he works much too hard sometimes… so I volunteered to give you the tour instead! But first, some of the servants in my lounge are eager to meet you! Would you be willing to take a detour to say hi?"
Jeanne let out a small laugh as she checked a small pouch for the key card. "If that's the case, of course I'll come. I'm curious about who some of my new teammates will be."
"A wonderful variety, that's for sure," Marie stated as she took a step back. "We might run into a few on the way, since most servants are scattered around Chaldea doing their own thing."
Marie turned and skipped. Jeanne's eyes widened slightly as she followed her friend down the hallway, the door to her room closing behind her. "I felt the feint presence of a number of servants, but I can only sense so far in this facility. Exactly how many are in Chaldea?"
The white-haired girl brought a finger to her lip in thought before she smiled and turned to her friend. "I think you're number sixty five. Now come on, let me show you the lounge!"
The young blonde had to take a pause to relieve her sudden shock.
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Jeanne had to take another pause to fix her jaw once they reached the lounge. To say this room was unlike the rest of Chaldea was a vast understatement. One would have thought, if not for the large Chaldean door that served as the entrance, that they had walked into a room in a palace which could easily hold hundreds of people.
Long, red curtains framed large windows that overlooked the snowy, mountain landscape of the surrounding range. Identically designed, red couches with glass coffee tables were positioned near the windows. There were large columns along the exterior of the room, that looked to be faced with faux marble. Between them hung large paintings of various origins.
Ornate, dark wood nursing chairs with red upholstery were placed in small groups with accompanying ottomans between the windows and the dining area. Booths with the same upholstery and mahogany color created rows that divided the lounging area from the dining section. The same chair designs were used for similarly designed tables between the section's booths. Judging by the number of seats and the open spacing, the room could seat several hundreds if more chairs were added.
Several giant, crystal chandeliers illuminated the room in a soft glow as they hung from the center, placed at interval with the columns. The red carpet that covered the floor was decorated with beautiful, golden designs. The far-left side of the room contained a small bar with a black marble counter. An adjacent door to the bar presumably led to a kitchen with a small hallway nearby leading to the equally luxurious bathrooms. Classical piano music played from a lavish Grand Piano in the center beneath an accompanying chandelier, creating a very sophisticated atmosphere.
In all likelihood, this room was one of the results of "The Furnishing Hurricane" she was previously told about. Where the Logistics Division managed to get so much material was beyond her understanding, and she made a mental note to inquire about that later; She knew they had a stockpile of material, but this would have required much more. As Jeanne collected herself, Marie pranced a few steps ahead, and spun around giggling with her arms held wide.
"Welcome to Salon De Marie! Well? What do you think?"
"It's... spectacular, Marie," Jeanne breathed in awe. "It feels so... royal."
"And so you see, there is some truth to her luxurious and bad spending habits after all, wouldn't you agree, Saint Jeanne d'Arc?" A soothing male voice echoed from behind the piano.
Marie's face quickly mirrored the upholstery. "Amadeus! How dare you!"
The piano music came to a slow stop, accompanied by soft laughing as the man stood up to reveal himself. A purple cutaway jacket with golden trim covered a golden button up shirt with ornate patterns upon it. He gently wiped his hands with a handkerchief and promptly returned it to a pocket in his white pants. Stepping away from the piano, he bowed gently. After his gesture, he ensured his long, platinum blonde hair was still in proper place before smiling with sharp, green eyes. Jeanne smiled back to the newly revealed former comrade, and gave a small curtsy of her own.
"It is good to see you again, Jeanne," Mozart spoke fondly.
"The pleasure is mine, Mozart," she replied similarly.
"Non non! You must not just ignore the queen!" Marie stated with crossed arms much to the amusement of the male.
"Ignore you, madame? How could we possibly?" asked another male voice, lacking in emotion.
Jeanne turned to look at two individuals who walked towards them from the bar. Both were dressed in similar design to Mozart, but the male with white hair and pale eyes wore a black cutaway where his companion with long, blonde hair and turquoise eyes wore a cyan version. There was recognition in her eyes upon seeing two former adversaries, but unlike her small campaign with Gudao in France, there was no tension in the air. This time, they were all comrades under one roof.
"I see I will be working with the both of you as well. It's good to meet under friendlier conditions, Mr. Sanson and D'Eon."
Sanson stated with a barely noticeable smile. Barely. "No need to be so formal, Jeanne."
"Indeed. While you're here, would you like a drink perhaps?" Chevalier d'Eon asked kindly.
"Water would be lovely, thank you," Jeanne stated as the French agent bowed and left to retrieve the order. "I see you've got some servants of your own, Master Marie."
Marie smiled at the observation. "They do it of their own free will, mind you. They also happily stick around since many other servants thoroughly enjoy the luxurious atmosphere we provide for lounging and dinners. As I have since its founding, I do my upmost to show them the true elegance of France."
"Thankfully it reduced eating in the cafeteria next door to only twice a day at most," Sanson chipped in. "We're currently in off hours so it serves as a lounge, but we mostly use the time to cater to patrons when we're not on a mission."
"We have a lot of hands who were willing to help thankfully. Mostly employees of Chaldea's kitchen who help with the meals, but also a few notable servants who gladly lend a hand," Marie exclaimed with a dreamy look in her eyes. "Tamamo and Boudica do a wonderful job, but Emiya's cooking is to die for. I'd introduce you now, but they're busy doing weekly inventory and preperation."
"You'll get to taste one of his meals tonight. Très bon, of French Quality even!" D'Eon chipped in, holding a wine glass of ice water for Jeanne which she graciously took.
"Let's relax and catch up for a bit so you can finish your water, then I'll happily give you the tour!" Marie exclaimed as she lightly gripped the saint's wrist. With a happy hum, she pulled her towards the windows as the three men shook their heads and returned to their duties. Knowing their employer, of sorts, they were likely going to talk until dinner without a break.
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"How was lunch with Astolfo? Still as you remember him?"
The saint chuckled, though her eyes wore a tint of exasperation. "As energetic as ever, that's without a doubt. I didn't think he would be here."
"You didn't? I figured he'd make a beeline for you after learning you were here... wait, what am I saying. He did exactly that at dinner last night! Silly me."
After giggling with Marie, Jeanne smiled and continued humming to herself as she placed a second set of new clothing into her closet. She was currently wearing the first one, which was a white, sleeveless formal shirt with a black tie, coupled with black shorts that barely reached down half of her thigh. Black leggings rounded out the comfortable set she wore from a past war, and it seemed an easy enough request to order. It had been a day since she arrived, and her first four outfits for her wardrobe arrived exactly as she wanted.
It was likely because she had been summoned in a small lull, with Arturia arriving before her only a week ago after the completion of a primary singularity. The saint had met the King of Knights after yesterday's dinner, and despite the small teasing from some servants that they looked similar, the two started off on quite a positive leap. They would be meeting again for dinner tonight to get to know each other, though her friends Diarmuid and Emiya would be joining them. At least she was getting to meet other servants quickly.
The queen currently sat on her bed in her usual red battle attire, happily kicking her feet while inspecting the last clothing laid on the bed. Beside her large, red hat that rested at her side was a strapless, blue gown that was beyond eye catching. The rider took a quick glance between the dress and Jeanne, taking in the rather ornate flower designs sewn down one side. As the Maid of Orleans finished placing and smoothing the third set, Marie giggled, causing the ruler to look towards her friend.
"What's so funny?"
"Ah, mon amie… I just never thought my saintly friend would get something so… alluring."
Jeanne blushed lightly as Marie held up the dress with a playful smirk. The queen giggled again. "Strapless… and even a little curve hugging too. Between this and what you're wearing… My, my, dear Jeanne~!"
"It was something they had in stock that needed only minor adjustments," The saint responded rather hastily. "I didn't wish to demand more than necessary."
"I was only teasing." The rider sighed and shook her head slightly. "Remember what I said about you always being too serious? Just relax and enjoy yourself! You're in Chaldea now!"
"We talked about this yesterday, Marie. I'm keen on trying," the saint reminded with a smile. "I'm looking forward to that dinner meeting today."
"I hope it goes well! King Arthur's quite interesting." While giggling, Marie handed Jeanne the dress to place away.
"She has as much regal presence as I thought, but it's still surprising she's not a he," Jeanne mused as she placed her dress into the closet.
"To be fair, how many are surprised dear little Astolfo isn't a she?"
Jeanne chucked as Marie checked her watch. With a small smile and a hum, she hopped to her feet and picked up her royal headwear. "Thanks for letting me spend time with you! I'll meet you in the lounge later, oui oui? I have that singularity deployment to take care of! Shouldn't take too long."
The Maid of Orleans nodded and smiled. "Be safe, Marie."
"An easy request! The quantum piece supply sorties are simple affairs!" Marie laughed as she skipped towards the door. It quickly opened, but the rider paused in the door to glance back briefly. "Until later, Jeanne! Vive la France~!"
The door shut behind the rider, leaving a slightly confused ruler behind. Jeanne blinked as she thought about what Marie just said, which only confused her further. Didn't the queen state it was a singularity deployment? The change in terminology confused her, but it was too late to ask her now. She made a mental note to ask someone about it later. But first, she had a small meeting with Shakespeare in the library to get out of the way; Thankfully, he seemed genuinely interested in making up for his past transgressions against her.
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"Ah, yes… our lovely queen loves to skim the details sometimes."
Chevalier d'Eon, in his customary salon uniform, stood by the couch Jeanne was relaxing on in the lounge. She took a sip from her glass of water before placing it on the glass table before her. The snowflakes reflected off her eyes as she glanced curiously at the blonde saber, who waited patiently to continue. With a nod, she folded her hands on her lap as the feminine saber cleared his throat softly.
"They deployed with Gudao to a minor singularity. They aren't as much of a threat to humanity as the primary ones, but they may have the potential to do so if left unattended."
"She called it a supply sortie, I believe?"
The saber nodded. "That's how they're often referred. Chaldea is cut off from the rest of the world, so minor singularities are the best way to bring different resources back. Anything from food to construction materials can be leyshifted back to Chaldea thanks to Da Vinci's tinkering."
"Would it be safe to say it's not just regular supplies that are required?" The Holy Maiden asked as she briefly glanced towards Sanson. He was fixing something near the Salon entrance.
"I believe today's has a higher potential for acquiring quantum pieces for later use."
Marie had talked about quantum pieces, but never what they were used for. The two girls had briefly talked about the revolutionary techmaturgical generators Chaldea used to help provide servants magical energy, and the pieces were mentioned as a byproduct of the process and created surplus. Beyond that, she knew very little besides quantum pieces being a small unit of crystallized mana that could also be harvested from anomalies. Jeanne both sighed and suppressed a laugh; Marie was so bubbly and jumped to different topics far too quickly.
She would make a note to learn more about it later, since the saber likely had some things to finish at the bar. "Thank you for the answers. I appreciate it."
He bowed with a small smile. "Of course, Jeanne. I'll be sure to tease Marie about not explaining things properly to our dear saint."
As the saber walked towards the bar, Jeanne turned back to the window and enjoyed the falling snow. She had plenty of time to learn the intricacies of this war, but she could also enjoy the circumstances for what they were; Even compared to the previous one she participated in, the number of allied servants this time was unprecedented. The chance to actually get to know different servants without being at each other's throats was an extraordinary opportunity, and as equally appealing as creating her own semblance of a relaxed life.
Jeanne never regretted her past life, nor the choices she made. She followed her path and was recognized as a saint, even if she didn't see herself as one. There were times she would wonder what if, like during her walk towards that fateful stake on her final day, but in the end she had made her decisions without doubt. Here, there was only a flexible schedule and a rare opportunity to try something different. There was plenty to do, but where to start looking remained the question.
As a Catholic, she could help with any religious ceremonies in the building. Though it was a nice idea, she still had some reservations after learning Amakusa was currently in charge for Catholics. But maybe that ruler, like some others she heard were here, had also taken a shine to the idea of a second chance. She hoped that was the case considering who else was here she was admittedly keeping her distance from. Regardless, the idea of trying to create something for herself among faces, old and new, was very enticing…
…and she was resolved to try. She had plenty of time to think of other possibilities to spend her time; Maybe she should find a hobby?
While her musings paused momentarily, she silently enjoyed the sudden gust that swirled the snow before her. Chaldea had an interesting change of scenery compared to the places she'd been, and she silently reminisced about the last time she had enjoyed watching snow; It was made easier by the tranquil peace gifted by the Salon. Only footsteps echoed in the near silent Salon in the late afternoon as she gazed at the falling serenity. On arrival, she had been worried the facility's interesting robots would be busy cleaning, but was pleasantly surprised they had finished in an ever-efficient manner.
She sensed a new servant enter the lounge, though she did not turn around. She simply listened and heard the working assassin greet him. "Good afternoon, Mozart."
"To you as well, Sanson. I see you are attending to the dinner board and table cards for Marie this evening."
"She'll likely complain about being too tired to do it after the supply sortie today. You know how she gets."
The chuckles of the two men brought a tiny smile to her face. "It's quite charming in its own way, of course."
Footsteps calmly moved to the center of the room, followed by rustling clothes as Mozart sat down at the piano. He began playing some quick scales out of habit. The caster often did some warm-ups well ahead of time to see how Marie's song selection sounded to his well-trained ears; Every pre-dinner playlist lasted ten minutes and served as a refined bell to signify appetizers would come out shortly. After that, the salon's sound system would play its own set of music to let him enjoy his meal, usually among his fellow countrymen. After the past night's dinner, Jeanne was more than convinced of the entire operation Marie had running for the organization.
With his scales complete, he turned to the first piece, which instantly caught Jeanne's attention. A soft smile graced her features as memories flooded back from the Great Holy Grail War. There was much to happily forget from that questionable conflict, but there were nearly as many moments she had been glad to experience. Quietly, and without knowing, she found her lips moving to the song in sync with Mozart's playing. She saw neither the snowflakes in front of her, nor her reflection in the window, but rather a quaint country road flanked by grassy plains.
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There were still several hours until they reached the border, and the ruler was still a little tense. She gently tucked her long, flowing braid behind her once more as the rushing wind dislodged it from its place behind her formal shirt. It was the clothing Laeticia had on hand, and while more revealing than she liked, the saint found it rather comfortable. Silently, she leaned on the back windshield of the green pickup, ever mindful not to get the small bits of rust onto the clothing. The young student had been gracious enough to grant her possession of the body, the least she could do was be respectful to her host.
The wooden crates rattled as she slipped the Mathematics textbook back into her bag. The sun was setting on the horizon through parted clouds, and she looked back down the road to admire it with a small smile. Ever since she left those golden fields of wheat, these moments of peace had been rare. To be able to witness it, even with the coming storm, brought a sense of peace to her mind. Silently inspired, like the curiosity to learn more, she felt the sudden urge of the host.
Jeanne was already well aware of some of the quirks Laeticia had, especially with the slight nervousness around attractive males her age. Thankfully, what she currently felt was far more comforting. It resonated within, matching her own past experiences singing hymns and prayers to the lord. With a humored sigh, she relented, and slowly began singing the first song that came to mind from her host's memorized favorites.
As the wind rushed by, the words to the religious song left her lips. It started quiet, but soon gently grew as she hugged her legs to herself. Eyes gazed at her passing surroundings, occasionally glancing back towards the setting sun. Passing cars failed to flinch her, as she continued to sing to herself. After a few minutes, the song finally came to an end, and she smiled fondly with a sigh. She thought about the possibility of singing more as another way to pass-
"By chance, young miss, are you an angel?"
Her cheeks flushed lightly as she looked towards the back windshield; She forgot the small window's divider had been open. The man simply looked at her with a glint of admiration through the rearview mirror as he kept driving. "The rain should have started hours ago, but instead the clouds part for a nice sunset... then you start singing Ave Maria better than any opera I've ever seen."
With a small smile, and a steady blush, she shook her head. "I'm no angel, but thank you for the kind words."
"I should be thanking you for the wonderful performance," the man chuckled as he tipped his deerstalker in a show of praise. "I turned the radio off to listen to it better. You going to sing more? I'd love to hear more of that voice. It's one of a kind!"
The man had been beyond generous in taking her to Trifas, even if she had to ride in the back. Silently, she thought it'd be a great way to pass the time and pay him back since he enjoyed her voice. With a small nod, she turned around to gaze at the sunset once more. She leaned back and sighed, mentally going through the list of songs Laeticia knew. There was still plenty of time to Trifas, and she could use a longer break from that Mathematics book.
Slowly, her lips began to move once more as she gently closed her eyes.
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"Enjoying yourself as much as we are, Jeanne~?"
Marie's voice shook the saint out of her reverie. As the queen giggled next to the sofa, Jeanne blushed and stared at her as several hands began clapping. Mozart had stopped playing the song to give her a standing ovation, which was joined by D'Eon and Sanson from their own positions. She silently thanked the lord no one else had been there to witness it, or her embarrassment may have multiplied. Still, Marie's amused grin proved capable enough of keeping her blushing.
"You're back early, Marie." Her attempts to deflect failed.
The queen hummed an affirmative sound before winking at her friend. "You know, if you were any louder you might attract Nero and Elizabeth to a sing-off."
"And Jeanne would easily win," Sanson added with a chuckle. He had begun working on decorations near Mozart's piano.
Marie rolled her eyes. "Asking them to sing was the worst mistake I've made as manager…"
Jeanne blinked. 'Are they really that bad?'
"But I digress, mon amie… Your voice is as lovely as ever, which makes the perfect opportunity to bring up something I've always wanted to!" Marie exclaimed happily, with the three servants suddenly turning to look at Jeanne once more. She internally recoiled, more out of nervousness than curiosity, but visibly held her ground; There were only so many things she could be inferring with the context. Marie leaned over the couch's arm and whispered in her friend's ear as the rest of the Salon group broke into small smiles at Jeanne's shocked reaction.
"Y-You want me to what?" Jeanne exclaimed much louder than she wished, chastising herself for letting Marie catch her so off guard. A tanned skinned, white haired individual in a chef's outfit peeked out the kitchen doors before shrugging and returning to his work.
"Oh don't play coy. Absurdité... Even if you didn't just sing here, it was clear as day while traveling. I saw you sneak away from camp on some French nights thinking we wouldn't hear you! And then there were the hymns to cleanse Siegfried!" Mozart declared with a teasing smirk.
"You do it so wonderfully and almost no one here knows!" Marie chimed in happily. "It'd also help you loosen up a bit! Break the ice further before the dinner meeting! You'll be wonderful!"
She beamed back at Jeanne who shifted, a bit uncomfortable by the quick suggestion. The queen sighed and placed a comforting hand on her friend's bare shoulder. "Sorry, it's very sudden since you just got here yesterday… but that performance just now didn't help with our eagerness. Will you think about doing it in the future at least?"
"We'd much prefer you over trying Nero or Elizabeth again."
"I still think Nero sings decently."
As the males started to bicker among themselves, Jeanne shifted in her seat as she blushed lightly. She never thought about performing in front of people before, let alone an entire room full of Heroic Spirits; Her small performance to the driver was completely different. She had just been a simple farm girl following her heart and the word of the lord. At least, that's what she used to be before becoming a saint and heroic spirit.
But the possibility was there. She did enjoy singing, especially after her time with Laeticia. The generous girl's repertoire also resided in her mind still, and it would be a great way to honor her memory. Singing was a wonderful talent, and hobby for some, so it could be a solid step in creating something for herself in Chaldea. There was also the idea it would make others smile, especially her recent friends… so maybe...
"I'll do it, Marie. I'll sing before dinner," she stated much to the excitement of Marie. Even the other Salon attendants began talking eagerly in their enthusiasm. "Um... tonight even."
Marie was even more ecstatic about the idea that she'd start so soon, at least until Jeanne held up a hand. "But only under one condition, if I may…"
¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ IX ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨
Jeanne looked at herself in the mirror of the girl's bathroom one last time. She blushed, noting that the dress really was rather form fitting. The strapless blue, gown reached to her high heels which barely showed underneath with their matching, glossy sheen. Marie lent her twin silver bracelets to wear, as well as a beautiful necklace with a cross that Jeanne picked out from her friend's collection. She wasn't surprised to find Marie with so much jewelry, and a lavishly decorated personal room for that matter.
"Feeling okay, mon amie?" the friend in mind chirped from the newly opened door.
Jeanne turned back to her friend and gave a soft smile. "Just some last minute nerves, I guess... I'll be fine."
"How unlike you to get nervous."
"I'll have to tell you more about Laeticia sometime," Jeanne mentioned with a smile, attempting to shake the slight unease.
Marie nodded and gave a reassuring wink before closing the door. Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, Jeanne regained her composure as she turned back to the mirror. Even if she did think about it, she still felt she rushed into something once more without knowing the full situation; She was now a lounge singer for pre-dinner, and tonight would be her premier. A nearby clock on the marble counter stated it was nearly seven, signifying it was time.
'No turning back now,' she thought as she collected the folder placed neatly beside the pristine sink. She breathed in one last time before exiting the bathroom door, entering a small corridor that exited into the lounge near to the bar. A few decorative plants and paintings hung between her and the now lively lounge. Her hesitation returned slightly upon hearing her future audience, and she paused in the middle of the hallway. The pondering barely lasted a few seconds before her thoughts turned to the tapping on her left shoulder.
She looked behind her to face Emiya's reassuring, small smirk and gray eyes. They had become acquainted earlier when he had a small break from cooking, though they would speak much more at the dinner get together. He had traded his chef outfit for a sharp, black tuxedo. A red vest peeked out from beneath his jacket to match the identically colored tie. His white hair was slicked back from its previously loose state.
"My, my… stage fright, Miss Jeanne?" Emiya asked with a small hint of amusement.
She smiled lightly and nodded. "A bit, but I'll be fine... I've gone through worse."
"Haven't we all..." the man let out a low chuckle. "From what we heard in the kitchen, you'll be phenomenal."
Jeanne faced forward and, with renewed confidence, walked into the lounge. She glanced at the vibrant red, one-shoulder dress the excited queen wore as she spoke with Mozart. Marie, having spotted her from the center of the room by the piano, turned on the microphone and tapped it to get the room's attention. The small talk subsided as all eyes turned to the Salon's manager who smiled warmly.
"Thank you for your attention. It is my pleasure to announce the surprise opening entertainment tonight and future nights! Our newest ally and blessed saint, Jeanne d'Arc, who will be singing for us this evening!"
With a gesture of her hand, all eyes turned to Jeanne, but this time she didn't even flinch. Just like the past dinner, the room was filled with servants and employees alike, but many empty tables still remained. Wearing a confident smile, she walked calmly to the piano where the microphone and Mozart remained. He smiled at her and nodded as she reached the slightly elevated center stage. Some dinner companions were whispering to each other while Jeanne opened her folder on the music stand.
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To Marie's surprise, the condition was simply a requested first song. Thanks to Laeticia, she had much more experience than before on singing to music, especially on paper. The saint was going to follow through with her rather impulsive decision, but she needed to do it right. For that, she needed a song she knew as the first piece. With Marie's agreement, the song in question was then added to the front of tonight's revised playlist.
The song Jeanne requested was different from the one she found herself singing as Mozart played; It was by chance she had known that one as well. Of all the pieces within memory, she felt the most confident about this one. It was the very same song she sang on a whim on that road to Trifas. The question was, would the composer before her be willing to play it?
"One must be comfortable for their debut, no? So you wish for us to perform the piece penned by Schubert?" Mozart asked.
"I'm sorry if playing another composer's work upsets you," Jeanne said.
Mozart smiled. "I heard he was partly inspired by my work, so I can hardly take offense. I am curious though… is it just because of the song's relevance to your faith?"
A small, fond smile graced her features. "My host loved this particular song. I kept it with me in memory of her. It's a wonderful piece."
"I can't mock her taste," Mozart laughed lightly. "Sure, I can play this for you. What key would you like if not the original?"
Jeanne smiled happily.
¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ XI ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨
Mozart's fingers began their waltz across the piano, playing in the key of B-flat major. A few audience members' eyes widened in eager anticipation at the recognizable notes, while many others remained clueless. Jeanne waited for the cue before breathing gently so the microphone wouldn't pick it up. She slowly opened her eyes and let her heart grant flight to her voice.
~~Ave Maria~~
~~Jungfrau mild~~
~~Erhöre einer Jungfrau Flehen~~
~~Aus diesem Felsen starr und wild~~
It was a fitting song for the pious Maid of Orleans. As she continued to sing, it was clear the audience was already captured by her voice. Emiya, leaning up against the bar, smirked as he noted the saint's confident performance. D'Eon was smiling in amazement as he shined a wine glass. Beside him, Sanson wore a more noticeable smile than he would usually show. Marie, sitting in perfect regal form on a stool, wiped a small speckle of a tear from one eye.
Gudao stood at the door, having arrived a little late from surprise logistical records presented by the unofficial director. He stood with his hands folded in front of his master uniform and smiled, enjoying the sound of Jeanne's voice resonating through the room. He noted the inspired and captivated eyes of the organization as Mozart's fingers danced with the saint's voice. Silently, he thanked his luck that he did not miss out on this surprise debut.
As the song reached its final moments, the saint glanced around at her audience and felt her expression glow. Save for a rare few jealous looks, two of which she assumed were the two singing rivals, the expressions she received were more than she could imagine. She could definitely do this every night if this was what she could do for others.
~~Dem Kind, das für den Vater fleht~~
~~Ave Maria~~
Jeanne chuckled and bowed with an angelic smile to a deafening applause.